Skillsmart Retail launches seminars to improve in-work training

A series of seminars will help NVQ providers to improve the way they work this year.

Skillsmart Retailís one-day ìGetting to Grips with Retailî events are designed to help those providing retail NVQs to improve how they deliver the schemes.

Now in their second year, the seven events will take place across England and Wales from February until June 2008 and will be hosted by training consultant, Margaret Barkway.

The events will take place on Monday 18 February in Taunton, Monday 10 March in London, Monday 21 April in Warrington, Tuesday 13 May in Birmingham, Tuesday 3 June in Belfast, Tuesday 8 July in Leeds and Monday 16 June in Cardiff

Wendy Holt, Business Services Manager at Skillsmart Retail said: ìWe want to help anyone at the sharp end of retail NVQ delivery. They have been designed to support and guide retail providers to raise their standards and allow them to learn new skills.î

More than 7000 learners of all ages take retail NVQs in England and Wales - vocational qualifications that allow people to learn to work in the sector through practical, work-related tasks.

The events are designed to ensure that they are all taught to a consistently high standard through the use of seminars, workshops, and discussions on all aspects of the qualifications.

They will be hosted by Margaret Barkway a training consultant with years of experience in retailing, training and promotion of vocational qualifications.

She specialises in sharing good practice in assessment and verification and works with the Adult Learning Inspectorate improving work-based learning across a variety of funded programmes.

The cost will be 135 per delegate, which includes delegate pack, lunch, refreshments throughout the day and a certificate of attendance.

Anyone interested in attending should contact sairina@skillsmartretail.com or download a form at the Skillsmart Retail website: