Channel Islands' Co-operative to Roll-Out Online Learning with Upskill People
Upskill People,3rdDecember 2013. The Channel Islands' Co-operative Society is to rollout an online learning platform from Upskill People across its food, travel, funeral, garage forecourt and wholesale brands. The platform has already been piloted across head office and three Locale stores and the continued roll-out will take place across all food stores in Jersey and Guernsey by Spring 2014.
The training aims to provide on-going skills and competency across five key areas: Health and Safety; Legal/Compliance; Food Hygiene; Sales & Service and Operations. All new employees will be required to undergo essential induction training, while existing employees will be using the online learning system as a refresher.
All stores have a touch-screen installed in the main staff area, which is easy to use and complements the inter-active method of training inherent in all Upskill People training courses. According to participants of the course, 92% felt the system was easy to use and 79% of participants enjoy learning in this way and found that the interactive nature helped them to understand and remember the content better. 89% agreed that they attained new knowledge and skills from the course.
Donna Abel, Head of Human Resources at The Channel Islands' Co-operative, comments; "Managers like the fact that training is not dependent upon their time and that it is interactive. Online learning provides consistency and minimal impact on in-store resourcing, as it easily fits around in-store shift patterns. Colleague feedback indicates that participants like the format of the courses, they are up-to-date and challenging enough to keep the interest of even our more experienced colleagues and managers. A number of our colleagues have English as a second language, yet they have found the training course intuitive, easy to use and they can learn at their own pace."
For those that prefer to learn at home, or on the move, the courses can be accessed from any location, making it easy for participants of the training to choose the best time for them to learn.
From an HR perspective, the learning platform provides the opportunity to train consistently, with little disruption to store operations and reduces administration. This in turn allows head office staff to be more proactive and strategic towards the support they provide to stores. The ability to be able to access reporting at the touch of a button means that managers and head office staff have access to meaningful information when they need it. As a result, managers are now more empowered to evaluate their own team training needs and ensure that all new recruits have received basic induction training within two weeks of starting. To date, the courses have had over an 80% uptake.
Pete Fullard, Creative Director at Upskill People, says: "The Channel Islands' Co-operative has moved towards online learning for its store managers and staff because it provides greater consistency and flexibility in training - all employees receive the same standard of training and can take the courses in a time frame that suits them. The learning platform reporting system enables managers and HR to keep track of who has undertaken essential training and who is yet to do so."
About Upskill People
Upskill People is a specialist online learning provider operating primarily within retail and hospitality. With a catalogue of more than 120 courses, Upskill People's portfolio provides all the essential skills and knowledge for both frontline and management staff, providing training on compliance of health and safety regulations, licensing laws, finance, recruitment and employment law. In addition, Upskill People provides a wide range of management and leadership development courses online.
As the training courses are completed, all managers can track an individual's progress, compare training uptake with other stores, document compliance and integrate with payroll, to ensure leavers and starters are always up to date.
Clients include Best-One, Coca-Cola, De Vere, JD Wetherspoon, Las Iguanas, Malmaison/Hotel du Vin, Moto, Nando's, ScotMid Co-operative, Southern Co-operative, Travelodge and WHSmith.
www.upskillpeople.com. Twitter: @UpskillPeople
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