7 Responses

1. background in high street retail
   Hello Craig,

   I’m sure there are many who can help you! I would love the opportunity to talk to you about your programme. I have worked in retail management and training, designed and delivered management development programmes and lots more! I’ve worked with regional management latterly, prior to starting my own training business 3 years ago. My e-mail is alison@darringtontraining.co.uk if you’d like a CV or let me know how to contact you, and my website is darringtontraining.co.uk if you’d like more info.

   hope to hear from you soon!

2. Bespoke solutions
   Hi Craig,

   I’m not sure where you are based, but I think that as this course would have a relatively limited target population, you will be unlikely to find an ‘off the shelf’ solution. I recommend that you look for a training consultancy to provide a bespoke programme. Certainly all the ones I have been involved in, or heard about are designed especially for in-house delivery.

   I believe that there is a consulatncy called ‘retail talent’ that may be useful, but I can’t vouch for their work.

3. Here to help
   Hi Craig,
   Firstly I would just like to wish you luck, a management programme is a great task.
   We have worked extensively in the retail industry, providing bespoke executive and management level training programmes and it has never failed to amaze me how successful these can be if designed and delivered by retail experts. My advice is to make a choice based on relevant expertise and experience.
   I cam across this forum simply by chance today and can only assume I was destined to reply! I work for a company called CCC Inspirations, who design and deliver bespoke development programmes for some of the world’s largest organisations. Our coaches have previously managed retail outlets such as The Gadget Shop and Next and thus bring to the company an understanding of what is required for this role.
   I would relish the opportunity to speak with and perhaps meet with you to discuss your management programme and if I canbe of any help. I can if required provide you with CV’s, references and notes on our expertise in retail.
   Do contact me if you feel I can be of valuable assistance.
   I will look forward to hearing your response.
   Kind Regards,
   Vicky

4. We deliver
   Hello Craig,
   I deliver Leadership and Supervisory training to Retail Area Managers for a company called Training Matters Ltd. If you want to have a chat, please drop me a line. Philippa.j.owen@btinternet.com

5. Bespoke, ILM endorsed
   Hi Craig,
   West End Training provide bespoke Management and Leadership Development programmes, endorsed by The Institute of Leadership and Management. We have offices throughout the UK and overseas.
   I have twenty years experience in retail management with one of the UK’s biggest retailers.
   As Sheridan said in a previous post one size does not fit all in retail and I believe a bespoke solution is more likely to meet your requirements.
   Please feel free to call if you’d like further information.
   01904 567624 or mprescott@westendtraining.co.uk

6. Earned the Right
   Hi Craig

   As you are already aware, retail area managers are tough, often arrogant, single minded and certainly do not suffer fools lightly. If you put a programme together that is not relevant or put a trainer/coach in front of them who has not EARNED THE RIGHT to talk to them about developing the skills of area management, the programme is doomed to failure, they and the ops manager will not contribute to any further skills development initiatives and you will lose credibility.

   There is only one provider of area manager training and development and that is Outlook Retail Management Development. Go to http://www.outlookretail.com and you will get all the relevant information you need.

   Regards,

   Anthony Dance

7. Retail Training and Development Consultancy
   Hi Craig,

   We have experience with a number of retail clients in the topic you’re looking at.

   Our website is http://www.firstfriday.biz or give me a call for an initial chat on 07763 959293

   Michaela Weller
   Retail Training and Development Consultant
   First Friday Ltd.