The potential future impact of coronavirus on the remarketing sector is to be tackled at the Vehicle Remarketing Association’s online Annual General Meeting on 1st July.
Three different speakers will tackle four different scenarios include an easing of lockdown with coronavirus under control, a national second wave, localised outbreaks, and a successful inoculation programme.
The experts are: Lee Swinerd, managing director – advisory at KPMG, who will look at the general economic implications; Mike Jones, chair of ASE Global, who will assess the automotive sector; and Dr Justin Varney, director at Birmingham City Council, who will cover the public health angle.
VRA chair Sam Watkins said: “Coronavirus is very likely to continue to affect remarketing in many different kinds of ways and this webinar session, which follows our main AGM business, is designed to help industry professionals understand some of the issues that they could well find themselves facing over the next year and further into the future.
“Throughout the coronavirus crisis so far, we have been holding regular online sessions for our members to help them cope with issues on a day-to-day basis. Now that there is a perhaps a moment of breathing space, this seems like a good time to examine how what now seems to be called ‘the new normal’ will develop over time.”
She explained that the VRA had started adding speaker sessions to its AGM last year and that the move had been overwhelmingly welcomed by the organisation’s members.
“AGM’s can often be quite dry and unexciting affairs that are dominated by procedural matters. Adding a high-level briefing element to the proceedings brings value and interest.
“We are very, very pleased to have Lee, Mike and Justin taking part. They are all leading commentators in their fields and we are sure that they will help our members develop an improved understanding of the challenges they may soon find themselves facing.”
The VRA was established in 2010 by senior executives from companies involved in all aspects of remarketing used cars which between them handle, sell, inspect, transport or manage more than 1.5 million used vehicles every year.
Sam added: “The VRA has had a strong last 12 months including an increase in membership, our most successful ever annual seminar, and a range of new initiatives. We’ll be using the AGM to report to members about the progress we have been making.”