In store staff training

[danny]

Do yuo think that an NVQ is a good source of staff training ?
I personally think that it is a long winded process and was wondering are any of you running your own staff development programs , and is there any advice that you can give me ?

[m8internet]

The NVQ is a good qualification for employees that plan to work in retail for several years
The disadvantage to an employer is that once an employee has worked through their qualifications they may leave you!

I noticed this with BP who only provided parts 1, 2, and 3, and not part 4
Since they did not provide part 4 this did not allow the employee to complete the NVQ, unless the paid for it themselves!

Personally, tailor your training to your own needs
Also, you MUST keep records
This is essential nowadays in all this "claim claim" environment

Before you even start an employee make sure they have all the basic documents
Follow up at least two references, contact them by phone, but also get copies in writing
Comply with the identity requirements (passport, birth certificate, and/or driving licence)
Conduct an induction, and once completed both parties should sign it, to agree that the employee understands their role, job, and obligations, as does the employer to the employee

Remember, recruiting just one person costs about £1500
Remember that when conducting the interviews and think to yourself "would I trust this person with £1500"

Aspects of training may include :
customer service
customer awareness
product knowledge
product legal requirements
service legal requirements
health and safety obligations
fire safety
basic first aid
cash handling
cash and security
non-cash payments awareness
EPOS procedures
computers in the work place (and Misuse of Computers Act)
product merchandising
product marketing
basic stock control, checking and receiving both deliveries and returns
intermediate stock control, balancing the inventory
advanced stock control, investigating the inventory
cash converting, and how to identify it (probably Managers only!)
collusion and theft, and how to identify it (probably Managers only!)

[retailworld]

Excellent list from m8internet.

I suppose you need to look at your initial training sessions and see if they cover everything.

NVQs can be useful, but much of it can be trained on the job in my experience.