New management structure and branding changes for retail skills council

Skillsmart Retail, the sector skills council for retail, today enters a new management phase and launches its new corporate branding.

Its innovative new organisational structure has been established with a view to achieving greater employer engagement while also dealing with the increasing demands of the day-to-day running of the organisation.

Meanwhile, the new branding sees the replacement of Skillsmart Retailís old orange, black and grey colours with purple and blue hues ñ in line with other sector skills councils.

Former Acting Chief Executive, Alan Roberts, today takes up the new, part-time role of Executive Chair, with responsibility for providing leadership for, and co-ordination of, the Board. Mr Roberts is also responsible for engaging with Skillsmart Retailís patrons and major retail employers with the key objective of raising the organisationís profile.

Skillsmart Retailís former Policy and Programmes Director, Anne Seaman, steps into the newly established role of Chief Operating Officer, assuming responsibility for the day-to-day running of the organisation and the ongoing relationship with the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) ñ to which all 25 UK sector skills councils report.

Skillsmart Retailís board and the chair and chief executive of the SSDA have fully supported the new management structure, describing the creation of stronger links between the organisationís staff and board as ìinnovativeî.

ìWe are convinced this new management approach will be instrumental in establishing Skillsmart Retail as the recognised and valued authority on the development and promotion of skills in the retail sector by strengthening the links between the organisation and retail employers, learning providers, government funding agencies and other stakeholders,î Ms Seaman says.

ìLikewise, our new corporate colours will provide a clearer visual link to the Skills for Business Network.î