Point S International's inaugural Next Generation Campus has delivered a strategic response to the automotive industry's critical leadership and succession planning crisis, which sees only 30% of family businesses survive into the second generation.
The three-and-a-half-day immersive programme, held in Provence, France, brought together nearly 70 young professionals from nine countries to address the dual challenge of business leadership development and family succession planning that threatens the automotive aftermarket's future.
The Campus follows a year of organisational focus on leadership and growth within the Point S network. Tyre News recently covered the company naming Ali Yilmaz as UK Managing Director as part of a wider restructure, and its long-term ambition to build the UK’s largest independent automotive service network by 2035. The new training push complements moves elsewhere in the trade to attract and develop talent, such as the skills-focused apprentice initiatives reported across the UK aftermarket.
The statistics paint a stark picture of the challenges facing family-run automotive businesses. According to a 2025 report by leadership consultancy Egon Zehnder, only 16% of family firms have a discussed and documented succession plan, while research by Eide Bailly found that approximately 70% of global family businesses lack formal succession planning.
The automotive sector faces particular vulnerability, with the global industry predicted to face a shortage of 2.3 million skilled workers by the end of 2025, rising to 4.3 million by 2030, according to a report by Ennis & Co.
The Point S Next Generation Campus was specifically designed to prepare the next generation of family business owners and leaders for the strategic, operational and succession challenges facing independent automotive businesses. The curriculum focused on leadership development, business innovation, strategic planning, and building the international connections needed to navigate the industry's transformation.
Post-event feedback from participants confirms the programme's effectiveness. Attendees described the experience as "enlightening" and "applicable to real business operations," with one consistent theme emerging: the power of shared experience amongst young leaders facing identical succession and operational challenges.
Lloyd Treherne, an attendee from an independent South African automotive repair centre, said: "It has been incredible to learn from Point S's strategic vision. This campus has empowered me and has shown me that, whilst my business faces many challenges, the Point S network is behind us."
Vesna Furlan Bozic, a participant from Slovenia preparing for family business succession, highlighted the networking value: "My brother and I attended the campus with the goal of preparing for succession of our family business. It was particularly eye-opening to meet other young people in the exact same position as us sharing the same concerns. We now have a long list of contacts to keep in touch with, discuss our daily challenges, and exchange perspectives."
Fabien Bouquet, CEO of Point S International, said: "The feedback we've received confirms that our approach has struck the perfect balance between theoretical and practical learning. By combining education with collaboration, we created an environment where knowledge, creativity, and connection could thrive. Participants gained not only strategic insight but also confidence and a genuine sense of belonging."
He continued: "Against the backdrop of a global leadership crisis that threatens our industry's future, investing in next-generation business leadership is essential. Research shows that family businesses with proper succession planning maintain 94% employee retention through leadership transitions. The collective energy and strategic thinking we witnessed at the campus is exactly what will carry this new generation of leaders, and our industry, forward."
Through the Next Generation Campus, Point S has positioned itself at the forefront of addressing the automotive aftermarket's leadership and succession challenges, demonstrating its commitment to the values that have sustained its success: independence, innovation, and a united international network built for the future.
Founded in 1971, Point S is the world's largest independent network of vehicle maintenance specialists, with over 6,772 points of sale present in 51 countries and employing more than 31,700 people.
Tagged with: Point S, leadership development, family business succession, skills shortage, aftermarket training, independent dealers, workforce development, automotive apprenticeships, management training, international networks, governance
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