Holland & Barrett are committed to the ongoing skills development of their colleagues. With an internal training team that support all aspects of colleague development, Holland & Barrett were looking for an awarding organisation who understood the objectives the business wanted to achieve, by recognising their needs as a retailer and employer-provider were different from a traditional college or training provider.
Holland & Barrett retail colleagues complete an induction training programme that develops their knowledge of a range of products in order to support customer effectively. Holland & Barrett wanted to raise the bar with their regulated qualifications by improving their content, design and assessment. They tentatively approached several awarding organisations about developing a range of bespoke qualifications that support store colleague training, career progression and CPD requirements.
Gateway Qualifications met with them and were able to support them with their goal to develop colleague knowledge by offering qualifications that provide structure, support progression and map against career opportunities within the company.
Solution
One of Holland & Barrett’s unique selling points is having store colleagues who are ‘qualified to advise’ in topics relating to its products and their benefits, in the 800 Holland & Barrett stores in the UK and overseas.
The key objective of the collaboration was to ensure that Holland & Barrett colleagues have the knowledge to offer customers safe and appropriate advice and guidance, while helping them make informed decisions about their personal nutrition requirements.
Both organisations worked together to develop a range of qualifications at level 2 and 3 in sports, food, herbal, body systems and tailored product and customer service. “Holland & Barrett have found Gateway Qualifications to be a very supportive partner. Several members of the team including the Qualifications Lead and Quality Manager have worked with us to develop our content and delivery into accredited qualifications that both increase the knowledge of our colleagues and support the requirements of our business.” said Gerald Pearce, Director of Training and Development for Holland & Barrett Group.
Gateway Qualifications were pleased they were able to demonstrate how both organisations could work together to improve colleague performance, increase satisfaction and make a significant difference to the learning journey for colleagues.