OIA launches search for training partner
08/10/2010
The pilot programme ran from March until September and was managed by Skillsmart Retail, the sector skills council for the retail industry, working closely with OIA chief executive, Louise Ramsay, and the OIA retail skills working group.
The OIA recruited six member companies to participate in the pilot scheme, representing a comprehensive spread of outdoor retailers. They were Ellis Brigham, The Epicentre, George Fisher, Itchy Feet, Oswald Bailey and Tiso. Staff from the participating stores completed a series of modules, designed to create and promote best practice for training and skills development in the outdoor retail sector. The programme also focused on helping businesses to develop and recognise the skills of their staff and fully appreciate the value of investment in this area.
The OIA and Skillsmart Retail set out clear deliverables for all participants, based around retention, achievement, productivity, shop manager advocacy, training and staff progression. Over the course of the project, shop staff and their managers were given an insight into a variety of training initiatives and levels, providing useful feedback that can help the OIA develop a long term retail training strategy for its members and the wider industry. Successful graduates from the pilot scheme will be awarded their Level 2 Retail Skills certificate, along with a goodie bag donated by Anatom.
Using information and insight gained from the programme, the OIA is now finalising its longer-term retail training plans. The intention is to find a third party expert training provider to develop a comprehensive strategy and programme of activity, rolling out after a launch at the OIA AGM on 3 March 2011.
Louise Ramsay, OIA chief executive, said at the end of the exercise: “In the field of training, outdoor retailers face a multitude of challenges, not least that of finding the time and other resource to support staff skills development. At the moment, there is no umbrella programme, bespoke to the outdoor industry, that offers a widely recognised and respected qualification. The consistent feedback we have received for some time is that this is a crucial area that needs looking at.
“The pilot scheme has been extremely useful. It has identified the key areas that need addressing and packaging into an assessable qualification, such as a standard for customer service and a sound technical knowledge of outdoor product. We are now in a position to seek a suitable third party training provider who can deliver a comprehensive scheme for the OIA. Once up and running, I believe that this will be of huge benefit to our members and their staff. The association will also be able to use it as a quality mark that we can promote to the general public, driving custom to retailers that we can highlight as demonstrable outdoor experts.”
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