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Staff Training

The Guild Academy

The Guild Academy was established in August 2008 to provide professional, free and targeted learning and development opportunities to independent SPAR store members in the Meridian & Welsh Guild area.

All training content is designed specifically for SPAR retailers and is aimed at all levels of management and staff. Our courses are practical and interactive, and are constantly reviewed to ensure that they meet retailers’ requirements.

This offering is unique amongst the five UK SPAR regional distribution centres.

Our Purpose

To provide relevant, professional and targeted learning and development activity that is both free and accessible to our independent retail members.

Our Values

Enable independent retailers to maximise their potential and recognise their contribution to the company’s success
Give great service and support to our independent retail members
Encourage retailers to recognise their role in the community and to make a positive contribution
Attain excellence in everything we do
Behave with honesty and integrity in all our relationships

Courses Delivered

A. P. L. H. – BII Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders
A topical and practical workshop aimed specifically at all owners, managers, supervisors and key members of staff who require a personal licence. Course materials are provided.
Duration: delivered within an 8 hour single session to include an exam.

CIEH Level 2 Certificate in Food Safety
An all comprehensive and engaging training programme designed for all owners and team members engaged in or responsible for food preparation for the general public. Course materials are provided.
Duration: delivered within an 8 hour single session.

Management and Administration of Health and Safety
Designed to deliver practical solutions and guidance for anyone involved in implementing health and safety processes in a retail environment.
Duration: delivered within a 4 hour single session. (Additional support is available on request.)

SPARkling Service
Customer service improvement training to address the rapidly changing requirements of the retail trade. Encourages owners and team members to establish a unique point of difference in their community through the service they provide.
Duration: delivered within a 4 hour single session. (Refresher training is also available.)

To Sell or Not to Sell (Age Related Sales)
Designed to outline the issues and responsibilities surrounding Age Related Sales in a retail environment. Provides practical tools to encourage legal compliance and establish due diligence.
Duration: delivered within a 4 hour single session. (Refresher training is also available.)

Training Champion Programme
Identified by our retailers to encourage continuous development in-store, to create onsite ‘Champions’ who will engage with their teammates and promote best practice, thereby establishing your store as the place to work and shop.
Duration: delivered across two 8 hour sessions over a period of two weeks.

Operational Excellence
A series of bespoke courses designed specifically for the independent marketplace with the aim of improving and instilling a best practice approach, thereby increasing revenue through the following:

Stock control and merchandising
Security and loss prevention
Safety awareness
People and performance

Advanced Apprenticeship in Retail Management
Unique to The Guild Academy and designed to meet the needs of a growing and proactive business through progressive training with owners and managers. Driven by government funding opportunities to include a work based project, which will identify an area of the business in need of improvement and encourage future growth and increased revenue.
Duration: approximately 8 workshops over a period of 10 months.

New Initiatives

Active Selling
A new addition to our operational excellence suite of courses designed to engage with your teams and encourage improvements in customer spending through the application of up-selling and cross-selling techniques. Don’t lose your market share; grow your business – that is our message throughout this proactive and targeted course.

CIEH Emergency First Aid at Work
This one day course will be delivered at venues across the area to address the growing need for compliance and raise awareness of best practice and social responsibility in the retail community.