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[November 2002]
Tile Industry Retail Training Gathers Momentum
The Tile Association in the UK has commissioned a DTI supported project to develop National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) training programmes and materials for tile retailers. These programmes are designed to improve customer service and selling skills throughout the supply chain. They will also enable people to work towards and achieve a City and Guilds NVQ.The work is being carried out by the Stoke-on-Trent based Association for Ceramic Training & Development (ACTD) as the National Training Organisation for the ceramic industry. ACTD has researched, developed and devised product knowledge information modules and retail selling skills materials. These include aspects based on retailers' most common scenarios: tiling a kitchen, a bathroom and a floor.
Volunteer retail staff from Tiles UK (Manchester) Ltd have already taken part in training to become City & Guilds Retailing NVQ Assessors, with a view to setting up the first Tile Retail NVQ Centre at Tiles UK. Two of the company's staff who have extensive experience in tile retailing are expected to achieve their NVQ Assessor qualification by the end of 2002. The first NVQ achievements are expected by March 2003.
A list of distributors across the UK has been identified as possible City & Guilds NVQ Centres. ACTD is contacting them to discuss possible arrangements and to agree which companies will become centres, and when.
The project is continuing well in line with the original plan and The Tile Association and ACTD are said to be delighted with the progress achieved to date. Ian Kershaw, Managing Director of Tiles UK and Chairman of The Tile Association Training Committee said: "The whole of The Tile Association training programme is aimed at bringing professionalism to the industry. NVQ levels 1, 2 and 3 will soon be available to the retail sector and it will be specifically directed at the tile industry.
"The staff at Tiles UK have helped with the design of the course and the company's retail sales people have been through what was the outline for the eventual NVQ course. They have reported back very positively about the structure of the course and its overall content."
ENDS