Forbes Names BMW to “Most Reputable” 2017
The German luxury brand BMW surpassed its rivals on Forbes Magazine’s World’s Most Reputable Companies 2017 list. The list highlighted the top 100 companies, and BMW beat out automakers like Daimler, Volkswagen, and General Motors by ranking 12th on the list behind companies including Rolex, Google, and Adidas.
Along with this prestigious seal of approval, Forbes notes that “BMW’s brand carries with it the perception of great products and innovation.” The list is compiled by the Reputation Institute (RI), a Boston-based reputation management consulting firm. According to RI’s managing director for North America, Stephen Hahn-Griffiths, BMW – which also owns MINI – is a brand that relies on “innovation and performance, but is fast coming to the realization that focusing on corporate social responsibility is equally, if not more, important.”
Working proactively to build a better workforce
BMW’s corporate social responsibility can partly be seen in its efforts to strengthen the American workforce and prepare today’s students for stable, rewarding careers. Through programs like BMW STEP (Service Technician Education Program) and MINI STEP programs – both offered at Lincoln Tech in Grand Prairie, Texas – students pursuing an Automotive Technology education can work directly on BMW models and get hands-on experience with the manufacturer’s proprietary technology. The manufacturer, in return, has a direct line to the new technicians trained to repair and maintain their iconic line of automobiles.
STEP training provides Lincoln students with the opportunity to receive the same training BMW Master Technicians undergo, in a fraction of the time. The training facility that houses the STEP program functions as a “school-within-a-school,” with nearly 100,000 dedicated square feet of classroom and auto lab space. “The BMW STEP and MINI STEP programs are examples of Lincoln Tech’s commitment to the success of our graduates and our industry partners,” says Lincoln Tech’s President and CEO Scott Shaw. “We are constantly striving to innovate and create programs to help students not only build skills, but to give them advanced standing with employers looking to build the strongest teams.”
BMW continues to earn accolades for thinking outside the box to further their brand and strengthen their technician workforce. Lincoln Tech is proud to call BMW a partner, and congratulates them on Forbes Magazine’s public recognition of their excellence!