Redditch, UK: Oakland International has launched its Oakland Training Academy for employees. It provides foundation, intermediate, management and specialist qualifications.
Representatives from the Institute of Grocery Distribution and the Chamber of Commerce for Herefordshire and Worcestershire attended the official launch yesterday.
David Hoey, human resources and purchasing director, Oakland International, said: “Oakland International’s long term objectives is to build skills and competencies for the future of the business and to provide our people with employability skills which can be transferred across our business or taken with them wherever they go as their career develops.”
The new facility is part of Oakland’s succession planning for all levels and “an essential investment in the ongoing development of their teams; helping each individual and Oakland to identify future leaders” he said.
The company expects the academy to become an integral tool for attracting new talent to the business as well as a key component in staff retention, becoming the central focus of all development activities.
Mike Darby, project manager, Institute of Grocery Distribution, said: “IGD welcomes the opening of Oakland International’s new Training Academy. It is a clear demonstration of the company’s commitment to both the aims of the Employability Pledge and the ongoing investment in their staff and training. As such it will do much to secure a talent pipeline of staff with the skills and capabilities they need not only for their ongoing personal development and success but also to meet business needs both now and in the future.”
Included in the new Training Academy is a Learning Resource Library and fully equipped dummy warehouse to give new starters practical experience in a safe environment, a facility that will directly affect customer service once training is complete.
Graham Biggs, president, Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Oakland International is a great example of a business putting staff training and development right at the heart of everything it does. To see and speak to those taking part in the training demonstrates just how effective this can be for a business in recruitment, staff retention and development with results shown on the bottom line. The dedicated training area and Academy is something to be truly proud of both for Oakland International and all of us associated with it.”_
The Academy plans to introduce E-learning solutions next year, to provide a competitive edge when retaining, competing and winning new business.
Graham Biggs, Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce president, Mike Ashton, chief executive, Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Sue Walton, Oakland International's human resources manager, David Hoey, Oakland International's human resources and purchasing director and IGD project manager, Mike Darby at the opening ceremony
