Planning a training course takes real thought – nobody knows this better than training coordinators. However, when considering how best to plan your learning and development programme, one important consideration is your audience. Let’s delve into the key aspects of coordinating retail learning and development, helping you to build a fantastic retail training course. We’ve been talking to The Retail Trust’s Amy Johnson, who gave her insight on coordinating training events for retail.
Types of retail training
Before you start planning your content, you should consider what kind of retail training would work best, both for your desired outcomes and for your audience.
In-person
While traditional, this option remains great for corporate head office retailers, as the new environment prevents disruptions and promotes team collaboration. It works equally well for store-based colleagues who are used to engaging in person, instead of through a screen, as it can be difficult to participate in online learning from stores where there are lots of distractions and little privacy.
While in-person training is helpful for a variety of reasons, it is essential when discussing sensitive topics. Amy states, “We will never train around sensitive topics [e.g. suicide, domestic abuse, etc.] online. You need to have eyes on people and be able to read people’s body language and how people are feeling.”
Remote
As ways of working change, so will your training – this applies especially to such a varied industry as retail.
Remote training allows you to connect with retailers across the country while providing an accessible option for colleagues who may struggle to access an in-person training location. One of the biggest challenges of training in retail is getting customer-facing employees away from their stores for a full day or more.
“You’ve got to remember with retailers that most people who are coming from stores are not used to being sat in a room all day, and don’t like to be sat at a desk for 7-8 hours.” Amy Johnson, The Retail Trust
Remote training gives you the freedom to provide more accessible, bite-sized training sessions – but bear in mind, “Anything longer than two hours, two and a half hours, needs to be in person; having people online all day is a real challenge.”
Hybrid
Another option is hybrid training, but if you’ve ever attended a hybrid session, you’ll know it comes with challenges. Done right, hybrid training brings together in-person and remote attendees for an engaging session. Done wrong, one group (or both!) is left to the wayside, unable to engage.
The difference between these scenarios often comes down to the technology available to support hybrid learning – explore how The Form Rooms can help.
On-site facilities
Sometimes, training coordinators have the freedom to choose their training location – but not often. This means getting creative with how you arrange your space.
If you can choose your training space (lucky you), elements to consider include:
- Soundproofing – Is your space private for your attendees, and disruption-free for you?
- Tea and coffee – These might be nice-to-haves for some, but for retail workers often on their feet, they’re a much-needed option for a quick break and a stretch
- Natural light – If you’re getting people in one room for an extended amount of time, natural light can make all the difference in people’s engagement
- Additional resources – Microphones? Whiteboards? Flipcharts? Choosing a space with resources on hand saves you a chore
- Temperature – There’s plenty of research that tells us the optimal temperature for learning; a room that is too hot or cold really impacts a learner’s ability to focus.
Amy Johnson: “Things like coffee breaks, spaces to get out of the room, natural light; these things are important for all – but for store-based colleagues especially, who are perhaps not used to being sat in a room all day.”
If you can’t choose your venue, there are still ways to make positive changes to your space, like:
- Choosing a private room – Even with limited choice, taking privacy into account can help you choose the right space for learning
- Choosing your table arrangement – Do you want a more formal lecture style or a comfortable roundtable set-up? For sensitive topics, consider how the chair layout could encourage open communication
- Adding props into the room – You don’t need the latest tech to make an engaging session; flashcards are great for encouraging creative thinking
While a local space, such as a village hall, may be convenient, it may not be equipped in the best way for a fruitful training session. In those cases, it may be better to look more broadly for a well-equipped training space – find out more.
Accessible learning environments
Amy Johnson highlights that in an increasingly multigenerational workforce, people expect more from their managers in terms of inclusivity and accessibility – the same goes for event facilitators.
Accessibility for people with physical disabilities could look like:
- Make sure the room is easily traversable by a wheelchair
- Checking that any upper-floor sessions have lift access
- Changing how physical props are used for those who may not be able to move them as easily
Also important to consider is accessibility for neurodiverse people. This could look like:
- Make sure details on your training location, schedule and content are communicated clearly
- Keeping your sessions punctual to your schedule
- Allowing attendees to move around the room freely
- Taking regular breaks to focus
- Providing additional resources, like coloured overlays and listed instructions, to attendees
The best thing you can do to ensure your training is accessible is to ask your attendees about their needs and remain flexible with your accommodations.
It’s important to consider that up to 90% of neurodiverse people choose not to disclose it at work (CIPD, Neuroinclusion At Work Report, 2024) – adopting neuro-inclusive practices as standard can help to make your sessions more engaging for all attendees.
How can The Form Rooms help?
At The Form Rooms, we’re experts in supporting training facilitators to create amazing training for retailers. Our spaces are naturally lit, accessible via public transport, and nestled in London’s West End, perfect for encouraging your attendees to think creatively.
Whether you’re hosting a large in-person training event or bite-sized remote sessions, The Form Rooms’ flexible event spaces can help you build a great training session.
To find out more about how we can support your next training session, get in touch.