Skillsmart Retail exports British knowledge to India as brands expand overseas

Citation

(2008), "Skillsmart Retail exports British knowledge to India as brands expand overseas", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 40 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2008.03740cab.006

Skillsmart Retail exports British knowledge to India as brands expand overseas

Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 40, Issue 3.

British expertise is to be exported to India alongside big shopping brands to aid training in the retail sector.

Skillsmart Retail has signed an agreement with an Indian conglomerate to run a training scheme in the country to ensure high-quality training in the industry in India, which has recently attracted big UK names such as Marks & Spencer. The three-year collaboration will see the creation of a Retail Academy in India run by Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), part of the $45 billion Tata Group, using content approved by Skillsmart Retail.

Anne Seaman, Skillsmart Retail Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to be working with TIS and sharing our expertise to develop fit-for-purpose retail in India. This is a fantastic opportunity to share our knowledge and experience in a country where the retail industry is growing rapidly”.

British firms have recently expressed a keen interest in the $350 billion Indian market, which is set to double in size by 2015. Marks & Spencer is looking for funding to open ten more Indian stores in the next five years.

The academy will give Indian learners a better understanding of aspects of retail and an opportunity to develop skills in the sector. Courses will be offered as e-learning as well as instructor-led training. The program will include modules such as health and safety, workplace security, working effectively, customer service, team leading, merchandising and selling.

J.C. Mistry, Head of Retail Training at TIS, said: “TIS’s Retail Academy in India will provide an opportunity to those who work, or want to work, in the retail industry in India to harness and develop their potential. Through the academy, we will help such individuals to explore and hone their skills to ensure that they deliver their best for their employers and customers”.

Skillsmart Retail is the sector-skill council for retail the authority for UK retail-skills development and promotion. Part-funded by the government, and led by retailers, it works with retailers of all sizes to understand their skill needs and develop solutions to improve business performance and productivity. It also promotes retail as a career.