Retailers encouraged to enter national awards to highlight retail training excellence

Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for retail, is encouraging retailers to enter this yearís National Training Awards as a way of highlighting the learning opportunities that now exist in the industry.

The UKís premier award for training and development, the National Training Awards are aimed at businesses, organisations and individuals who have achieved lasting excellence and success through training and learning. The closing date is 28th April.

The common quality to all winners is the ability to demonstrate significant benefits from effective learning and skills development. Winners show not only good people development but also the outstanding results gained by putting the learning into practice.

îIn the face of a diminishing workforce and greater competition for talented employees, it is vital for the whole retail sector that employers do more to actively highlight the learning opportunities that now exist within the industry,î says Skillsmart Retail Chief Executive, Alan Roberts.

ìBy entering the National Training Awards, retailers can both showcase their business and raise the profile of the industry in the eyes of existing and potential employees.î

ìIn the past, retail has not had a great presence in the awards yet, when retailers have entered, they have demonstrated that their training compares very favourably when benchmarked against other sectors in the UK. In relation to other industries, retail has had a relatively high proportion of entries reaching the final judging phase and achieving regional and national recognition.î

Of the 56 retail entries in 2004, 12 entries were finalists, including Dollond & Aitchison, Mastercare, Co-operative Chemists, B&Q and Gilesports. Of these, two were UK winners, five were regional winners and five were ìHighly Commendedî. Winning entries often receive national and local coverage and are used as examples of best practice when promoting quality training.

For more information on the National Training Awards, visit their website www.nationaltrainingawards.com or ring the NTA information hotline on 0800 917 7337.