A new retail training centre was today hailed as key to boosting retail businesses in Wales.
Acorn Skills Shop was officially welcomed as a member of the National Skills Academy for Retail – a network of skills shops designed to improve productivity for retail businesses and their staff, through training.
Forming part of the new network of skills shops in Wales, the Acorn Skills Shop will cover a large swathe of the country – from Swansea, Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire in South West Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Monmouthshire in South East Wales, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in West Wales, Powys in Mid Wales and Wrexham and Flintshire in the north.
Organised by the National Skills Academy for Retail and part-funded by Welsh Government’s Sector Priorities Fund Pilot, it will offer retailers of all sizes and their employees training opportunities including apprenticeships, management training and bespoke programmes as well as advice to those wanting to get into the sector.
Through training and qualifications, retailers across Wales can now develop their staff’s potential to make more productive and profitable businesses and ensure the continued growth of the sector. This is especially important as the Welsh retail sector currently employs 139,000 people, accounting for around 10% of total employment.
Staff from the Acorn Skills Shop attended the Welsh launch of the National Skills Academy for Retail at the largest shopping centre in Wales, St David’s in Cardiff, with keynote speaker, Jeff Cuthbert, AM Deputy Minister of Skills for the Welsh Government.
Mr Cuthbert said: “Retail is hugely important to the Welsh economy. Its growth and sustainability is dependent on building a well-skilled workforce and attracting new ambitious people to drive the sector forward in the future. The National Skills Academy for Retail’s skills shops will work as a champion for the sector, promoting the variety of opportunities within the industry and working with retailers to ensure continuous career development of staff.”
Acorn Corporate Development Director Helena Williams said: “As part of the National Skills Academy for Retail, Acorn Skills Shop will give all employers and employees within our geographical regions access to first class training. Our training concentrates on developing the skills their business needs, which ultimately leads to a better skilled workforce benefitting business and the local economy as a whole.”
Jane Rexworthy, Head of the National Skills Academy for Retail, said: “We are excited to launch the National Skills Academy for Retail in Wales and welcome the Acorn Skills Shop. This is a huge achievement for the organisation to be able to offer all retailers and their employees in Wales our services. Each of our skills shops provides a valuable service to their area’s residents, businesses and communities.
“These are challenging times for retailers. It is more important than ever to run efficient and productive businesses. To continue the success of our retail industry, we need to ensure the workforce has the right skills. From honing customer service to creating the wow factor with visual merchandising, our network helps retailers to be as successful and profitable as they can be.”