London Designer Outlet to launch Skills Academy

London Designer Outlet has been awarded funding to develop a new training academy to teach retail skills and encourage more people to develop a career in retail.

The Quintain-owned outlet in Wembley Park, London, has secured the funding from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills to set up a Skills Academy as part of a competition run by UKCES and the Department for Work and Pensions, encouraging firms to create projects which benefit employees.

Launching in September, the LDO Skills Academy is intended to help those starting out in retail by enhancing their skillset and career development prospects. The Academy will teach skills in the four key areas: selling, service, retail standards and tourism.

Sue Shepherd, centre manager for London Designer Outlet, said: “Our objective is to ensure that retail assistants working at LDO have access to the best training in sales and service, enabling them to progress in their careers and deliver a great experience for every guest who visits.

“By partnering with the retailers themselves to help design the training modules we are confident that we will have a product that meets the needs of the different businesses. Quintain has been very supportive in providing a great environment for the Academy and we are all looking forward to the launch in September.”