Window, door and conservatory products manufacturer Conservatory Outlet says it has invested more than £100,000 to create a sales training academy.
The move is in response to an ageing workforce and shortage of new talent in the industry and is part of a wider recruitment strategy to help the Wakefield firm's 27-strong network of retail customers attract salespeople from outside of the sector.
It is anticipated that every year at least 50 salespeople will go through the training programme which includes time spent in the factory, at key suppliers and virtual workshops and is designed to improve knowledge of the products, purchasing trends and legislation.
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Greg Kane, chief executive of Conservatory Outlet, said: “Our model is all about adding value to our customers and this is another example where we have been listening to what they need and coming up with a solution that will hopefully make a big difference.
“The network adopts a consultative approach to sales, taking time to listen to our clients and understanding what they are looking to achieve with their home. It goes against the outdated ‘double glazing sales’ model of pushy salespeople, but we believe it is the right approach to deliver the best possible product, the best possible service and the best possible experience.
“This is why we have taken the decision to create a central Training Academy that our retail customers can tap into and put new recruits through, so they learn the basics, the knowledge of the products and the culture we try to live by.
“We believe it will take the stress out of recruitment for our members and will help attract new and exciting talent to our industry.”
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Training will be delivered by technical experts and other sales professionals at Conservatory Outlet and its suppliers. ERG Scotland, which is in Invergordon, is the first of the firm's network to benefit from the new academy.
Ian Joy, managing director, said: “There is so much interest in home improvements currently that we need to increase our sales team and attract new talent into the industry.
“We’ve been chatting with Conservatory Outlet about this and are delighted Greg and his team have listened and come up with a way that we can tackle the shortage together. I’ve agreed that ERG Scotland will be one of the first companies to enrol new staff into the academy and we’ll also help to shape the delivery going forward.”