Bodywork industry, Headline, Mechanic industry
THE 2024 EDITION OF AIA CANADA’S GRAND FORUM DU QUÉBEC: ATTRACTING, RECRUITING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES
(Article published in L’Automobile Mechanic magazine, October 2023)
By Isabelle Havasy
The next edition of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) Grand Forum du Québec will focus on the workforce and best practices. The gathering will take place on January 25, 2024, in the city of Trois-Rivières.
Last year, after a mandatory four-year break caused by the pandemic, it was time for a reunion. “We were revitalized and happy to be together again,” explains Élisabeth Lambert, President of the Québec Division of AIA Canada. Exchanges and networking will continue to play a key role on the agenda, but the focus will be on workforce issues and best practices.
The Labour Shortage Issue
Workforce shortages are a major issue for all industries, ranking at the top of the list of concerns for SMEs, which make up the majority of companies in the province’s automotive aftermarket sector. International recruitment is among the many ways in which the shortage of personnel can be alleviated. “For a small business owner, this solution can appear to be an insurmountable mountain. That’s why we’ll have a firm on hand to explain the process in detail, so as to demystify this type of hiring. There will also be entrepreneurs who have worked with companies specializing in this field. Sharing their experience will go beyond theory and make this under-used option more tangible.
“We also wish to promote best practices in business. We want to offer participants solutions to help them face new challenges in today’s reality.” To this end, AIA Canada has called on industry players, coaches and trainers to share the proven systems and processes that contribute to their success. “These people will be there to inspire members […], so they’ll leave with ideas they can implement, and drive their business forward.”
Preferential Rates
“For this edition, we’ve set ourselves the goal of reaching more collision centres and repair shops. I believe that the seminars and conferences contain information that is highly relevant to these sectors in particular,” concludes Ms. Lambert. “To this end, we have established a special rate to encourage them to participate.”
The Grand Forum du Québec fosters interaction and stimulates the exchange of ideas between participants. The format will be similar to that of the previous edition, but the guest speaker will give way to a period devoted to networking, to maximize the presence of all these participants gathered under one roof.
Registration for the Grand Forum du Québec is now open. Visit aiacanada.com/en/events/grand-forum-du-quebec/ to register.
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