Home > News > February 2008 > 18 February 2008

Retailer participation `key to success of new skills academy'

The National Skills Academy (NSA) for Retail will only achieve its full potential if retailers get involved in helping to shape it, the newly-appointed chairman of the NSA shadow board has warned.

Mr Juan Pemberton, head of recruitment, learning and development at Marks & Spencer, said: "The National Skills Academy is currently in its development stages – there is a great opportunity therefore for the retail sector to become actively involved to ensure the NSA delivers what our businesses want and need.

"The NSA has the potential to deliver to us the best possible people capability in what has already become a highly competitive, service-demanding culture. Retailers' input is critical if we are going to create something that is relevant and compelling; something that adds value to our sector, to individual businesses and ultimately to UK plc."

Skillsmart Retail, the sector skills council for retail, said the NSA will be based on a national network of one-stop, walk-in skills shops offering training, advice, placements and work experience for those seeking retail careers or existing employees wishing to progress. According to the sector skills council, skills shops will be operated individually by local partnerships of retailers, developers, training providers and other agencies including job centres, but be linked by a national intranet served by a web platform.

Mr Pemberton said that retailers' involvement - which includes helping to develop and working with skills shop partnerships - is the key to realising the Academy's aim of a more highly skilled retail workforce pipeline, ensuring new recruits "meet our requirements and can hit the ground running."

To help achieve this many of the NSA skills shops will feature "mock shops" in which trainees will be able to gain experience practicing in simulated retail environments. "Mock shops are an exciting initiative because they will simulate our workplaces in ways we've not been able to do before, giving potential new employees much more confidence when they hit the shop floor," said Mr Pemberton.

NSA skills shops will also tutor trainees in good customer service. "This includes fostering the social skills that are at the heart of serving customers such as good conversation, eye contact and taking ownership and accountability," said Mr Pemberton.

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