Retail Celebrates Skills Shop Success
26th October, 2010
Plymouth has been given the go ahead to set up a National Skills Academy for Retail skills shop in the city.
The successful proposal was put together by Plymouth Employment and Skills Board (ESB), with lead partner City College, Focus Training, Working Links and Enterprise Plymouth.
The bid was approved by Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for Retail, which aims to improve skills, training and opportunities in the retail sector.
Dr Graham Stirling, Chair of Plymouth ESB said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the city. There are only two other retail skills shops in the South West, in Bristol and North Devon.
“Plymouth attracts people from the whole region and we need to ensure that they enjoy shopping here and want to return again and again. To do this, we need to invest in quality training for managers and employees and provide effective business support for the independent sector.”
Opening the retail skills shop will enable partners to offer accredited programmes to retail students, trainees and employees across the city. The partnership will also be able to run Mary Portas master classes, which cover every aspect of setting up and running a successful independent retail business.
City businesswoman, Elaine Budd, the bid co-ordinator, said: “All partners have worked incredibly hard to put this bid together. The retail skills shop will be set up in the heart of the city making Plymouth a centre of excellence, developing business and creating jobs.”
Jane Rexworthy, Head of the National Skills Academy for Retail said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Plymouth into the National Skills Academy for Retail. It will not only provide excellent opportunities for retail workers in the city but also throughout the South West. As part of the nationwide network of retail skills shop, this new skills shop will provide consistent and high-quality training and qualifications to all retail businesses, whatever their size.”
ENDS
