Clinton Cards Group turns jobs into careers: Retailer launches nationally accredited training program

Abstract

Purpose

Details how UK greetings‐card and gift retailer Clinton Cards Group has focused over the last three years on recognizing and building the skills of its employees through work‐based learning leading to nationally accredited qualifications.

Design/methodology/approach

Explains the reasons for the move, and the advantages of the new system for the company and individual employees.

Findings

Describes how the company enlisted the expertise of accredited awarding body EDI to map its bespoke in‐house training program with retail National Vocational Qualifications and the retail apprenticeship; Clinton Cards Group's retail diploma, NVQ and apprenticeship program now provide ongoing career‐development opportunities to thousands of staff at more than 800 stores.

Practical implications

Reveals that the firm's strengthened commitment to work‐based learning has helped to reduce employee turnover by 14 percent since 2007; around 85 percent of managers have more than three years' service, helping to create consistent, high‐quality customer service.

Social implications

Describes a scheme that is helping to put many people who began as temporary, part‐time employees on to the career ladder.

Originality/value

Reveals how one company is trying to dispel the idea that the retail industry simply provides part‐time work or a career stop‐gap.

Citation

(2010), "Clinton Cards Group turns jobs into careers: Retailer launches nationally accredited training program", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 18 No. 4, pp. 24-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670731011051513