$50 Training To Help Retailers During Recession

24 March 2009
$50 Training To Help Retailers During The Recession

In response to the global economic crisis, the Retail Institute is offering all its qualifications for $50 to retailers. Training resources will also be offered at $50.

``We are doing everything in our power to help retailers through this tough economic situation. As the retail industry’s training organisation, there is no better time for us to invest additional support in our industry,’’ says Retail Institute Operations Manager Desleigh Jameson.

``Training your staff now is one way to `future proof’ your business. Training is an essential ingredient to improve productivity and to reduce the costs associated with staff turnover. Your business will also be better prepared to take advantage of the `good times’ when they come around again.’’

``We expect a good number of retailers to make the most of this opportunity to invest in their business and staff. A business is only as good as the employees in it, and training can help motivate staff and get the best out of them,’’ says Jameson.

The recession offers an opportunity for retailers to upskill themselves and their staff during down times. When business does pick up again, trained employees will be better prepared, saving money in the long run.
Training can also help retailers during the recession by creating staff who are more productive, confident, efficient and committed to their work and workplace. They value their qualifications and have a better awareness of career pathways and opportunities for improvement. Training is also another way of rewarding staff without having to increase salaries.
The Retail Institute has seen a shift in retailers’ attitudes towards training. ``Some businesses have reviewed their training budgets, but others are using this time to invest in their staff and to stand out from those who have cut back on training,’’ says Retail Institute Key Accounts Manager Stephanie Clark.

This offer meets the needs of small to medium enterprises as well as major corporate retailers. Small businesses can now afford to put people into training, and bigger organisations can use their training budgets to cover more people, or help to cope with training budgets that have been slashed.

The Retail Institute works with the retail industry to develop workplace qualifications and training resources that meet the current and future needs of employers and employees. These currently include customer service qualifications, National Certificates in retail from shop floor to management level. Two new qualifications in loss prevention are currently being developed – another outcome from the economic crisis.

The $50 offer will be available for all of 2009, and will be reassessed in 2010. The $50 will be used to cover administration costs. This offer is not available to retailers using customised training material developed by the Retail Institute.

ends

© Scoop Media