As part of our feature on trainer development, we asked TrainingZONE members to tell us a bit about how they came to be involved in the training profession, and offer some thoughts on what it means to be a trainer today. We received a fantastic selection of responses, which will be published throughout the month. Here, Lynnette Moran, Regional Training Manager at Lloyds Pharmacy responds.
- What's your current job role? Regional Training Manager for LLoyds Pharmacy, responsible for the design, delivery, outsourcing and co-ordination of training & development interventions for 228 pharmacies and their teams, including Pharmacists, Dispensers, Sales Assistants and the Regional Support Team consisting of 8 Area Managers and 16 District Managers.
- What did you do before this job? Organisational Development & Sales Training Specialist for 7C, an outsourcing call centre company.
- Describe your route into training Initially 'Nelly-trained' new starters as Cashiers at TSB Bank PLC,moved across into providing Financial Advice and therefore Sales! From there I interviewed and trained a team of 6 Telesales staff and managed the operation as a Pilot scheme until its success meant it was centralised to a unit in Edinburgh. Left to join Barclays as a Sales Advisor and within 6 months seconded to the Training Team and never looked back from there!
- Did you always want to work in training and development? Initially I wanted to be a Teacher!! However, due to a serious accident my Father had, I didn't go to University and opted for a job in a bank as a safe bet! Once having attended a Sales Training Session I thought, 'I could do that', and the rest is history.
- What would you say has been the most significant event in your career to date? Moving from banking into the bigger world. I accepted a six-month interim position in Leeds for a web-based company, and it was the CEO, Dennis Engel who opened my eyes up to how the marketplace operated and how I should sell myself and the skills I had.
- How do you think the role of the trainer has changed since you began your training career? I would like to think we are now seen as a true support function, providing help, advice and support as well as delivering training events.
- What single thing would improve your working life? A laptop that was reliable!!
- What's your favourite part of the TrainingZONE site? Any Answers, I really like to see what others are doing and share experiences.
- Do you have any advice for those looking to embark on a career in training? Be passionate in everything you do. If you don't believe, the delegates will know.
- What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the trainer today? Budgets.
