ASOS.com chief named as Skillsmart Retail Patron

ASOS.com Chief Executive Nick Robertson is to become a Patron of Skillsmart Retail, it was announced today.

The head of the booming online-only fashion store is a keen advocate of IT and retail skills and becomes the Sector Skills Councilís first online retail Patron.

His new role will see him work alongside other high profile industry figures to raise awareness of the importance of skills in the sector.

Nick Robertson said: ìIt is vital to promote training and development, providing employees with core strengths that not simply benefit the individual but their employer and the retail trade as a whole.

ìThe success of ASOS.com reflects our commitment to raising the standards of each member of our staff; resulting in a better standard of service for our customer which is our primary objective, he added.î

Skillsmart Retail Chief Executive Anne Seaman said: ìWe are delighted to have Nick Robertson join us as one of our Patrons. His innovative approach to retailing and his expertise in the online sector will be a valuable resource to us.

ìHis decision to work with us also sends out a positive message about the importance of skills in all areas of the industry and we look forward to working with him to create a skilled workforce that can respond to the challenges of retailís vibrant future.î

Robertson founded ASOS.com in 2000 and it has since grown to become the UKís largest pureplay fashion and beauty store. Its sales in 2008 were 81 million - a 1000% increase in a four year period, making it the UK's second largest overall online fashion retailer.

Mr Robertson has been keen to develop his employeesí skills in buying, merchandising and creative as well as in areas not traditionally associated with retail such as web design, search engine optimisation, affiliates and pay-per-click.

His work at Skillsmart Retail will see him advocating this high-skilled approach to retail to others in the industry. This includes supporting Apprenticeships, the Diploma in Retail Business and the proposed National Skills Academy for Retail - a national network of training centres offering high quality skills development across the UK.

Other Skillsmart Retail Patrons are Ian Cheshire, Chief Executive, Kingfisher plc; Charles Dunstone, Chief Executive, The Carphone Warehouse Group plc; Belinda Earl, Chief Executive, Jaeger Ltd; Justin King, Group Chief Executive, Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd; Sir Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, Tesco plc; Jerry Marwood, UK Managing Director, SPAR (UK) Ltd; Charlie Mayfield, Chairman, John Lewis Partnership plc and Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman, Marks & Spencer plc.