Retail therapy - LSPA supports Basingstoke training initiative

Improving skills and enhancing employers' retention rates in the retail sector have been earmarked for funding by the North Hampshire LSPA Group.

As a result, several three day courses designed to get the long-term unemployed into retail jobs were held at Festival Place in Basingstoke and West Quay in Southampton. Fourteen out of work people attended the first Festival Place course which covered a variety of retail related topics including, customer service, customer complaints, teamwork, policies, legislation and CV writing. Managers from Debenhams and Next explained what the retail environment is really like to work in and the qualities they look for when interviewing. Everyone who completed the course received a Health & Safety certificate and an invitation to a job interview with a local retailer. The training is being delivered by tutors from Basingstoke College of Technology, which is part of Retail Links.

For further information on the initiative visit news and events www.retaillinks.co.uk.