Association works to boost retail staff skills
04/12/2009
The Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) has announced a pilot scheme to award new skills certificates to retail staff for their knowledge of outdoor clothing and equipment.
The pilot project will start in mid-February in a select number of OIA member stores, with the full scheme due to launch later in 2010.
The OIA has said it is keen to enable all retail members to access the qualification from summer 2010 and include it as part of their strategy for staff development. The aim is to promote best practice for training within the sector and help businesses develop and recognise the skills of their staff.
Louise Ramsay, chief executive of the Outdoor Industries Association, said on announcing the development: “One of the OIA’s key objectives is to promote training and careers, encourage more people to work within the sector and improve skills levels across the board. Retailers face a multitude of issues when it comes to training and there is inconsistency and disparity with regards to both training initiatives and levels. The feedback we have received from across the sector for some time is that this is a crucial area that needs addressing and in which the OIA should be taking the leading role."
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