Classic car and boat insurer Hagerty Insurance’s Employee Vehicle Restoration Project is a choice among several options in Hagerty University’s hobby expertise curriculum. The company recognizes that not all employees come to Hagerty with car knowledge. The hobby expertise curriculum provides opportunities to increase knowledge surrounding collector cars, industry trends, and ownership experience.
Hagerty offer several interactive classes designed to increase collector car hobby awareness. Additional options in this curriculum include: Vehicle Values, How an Engine Works: Stock vs. Mod, Collector & the Car Workshops, and Car Show Fundamentals. These classes are open to all employees and recommended for all client-facing positions.
The Employee Vehicle Restoration Project has been replicated three times with consistently successful results. Some 69 percent of the participants in 2013 were client-facing employees. Employee engagement with this active learning opportunity is high.
- 90 employees helped to restore the 1930 Model A.
- 123 employees helped to restore the 1969 Camaro.
- 70 employees helped to restore the 1964 ½ Mustang.
Program Details
Participants experience a unique opportunity to connect to the hobby by engaging in a hands-on learning experience that fosters appreciation of the restoration process. Projects include cleaning, sanding, body work, paint, installing engine, transmission, and interior components. After the participants’ time at the Hagerty Garage working alongside fleet specialists on the project, they are encouraged to blog about their experience on Hagerty’s intranet, Gearbox. Employee feedback through this channel is consistently enthusiastic:
- “Have you ever heard of a company having its own car collection? How about buying a project car and then allowing the employees to rebuild it as a means of teambuilding, or to understand the restoration process?”
- “The guys at the garage really made the experience make sense for people with all different ranges of car knowledge…”
- “I would love to come to work and do this every day! I learned a ton, and it will help me every day. This is the beginning of a long love for collectors.”
In addition to fostering increased employee knowledge and engagement, the Employee Vehicle Restoration Project also contributes to better customer relationships and a better reputation for Hagerty.
As employees learn about the process of restoration and the experience of classic automobile ownership, they are able to make more meaningful connections with clients. These connections help Hagerty to reach goals for the retention and Net Promoter Score enterprise measurements on its strategic plan.
Results
With the guidance of Hagerty’s fleet specialists, employee-restored vehicles each have been completed with consistently positive results. Each has gone on to participate in numerous car shows and events such as The Great Race, and all have been featured in the media.
- The 1930 Model A was driven by an employee for a full year, and enthusiasts were invited to read about the journey at http://www.365daysofa.com.
- The 1969 Camaro SS participated in the 2013 Great Race and appeared at classic car events around the country. The restoration and tour were documented at http://www.hagerty.com/camaroproject.
- Enthusiasts were invited to follow the 1964 ½ Mustang on its journey from California to Traverse City and check in for updates on the progress of the restoration at http://www.hagerty.com/mustangproject. Upon completion, “Mildred” the Mustang was invited to be a part of the 50th anniversary of the Mustang celebration on “Fox and Friends” and also participated in the 2014 Great Race.
While Hagerty’s CEO “simply wanted to give his team an opportunity to experience a restoration for themselves, so they could feel a sense of accomplishment and also better relate to the clients they serve,” the results also have built awareness for the Hagerty brand. This increased awareness of the Hagerty brand helps to support the overall growth of the business. The Employee Vehicle Restoration Project demonstrates that at Hagerty, “We May Sell Insurance, but We Live Classics.”
