Chester Showcase a success!!!

On the 23^rd of November at the Chester Visitor’s Centre, CORA, Cheshire Oaks Retail Academy, launched CORA@Chester to support Chester retailers. Delegates heard from a number of presenters on topics ranging from delivering world class customer service via World Host, the range of retail specific training courses available at bronze, silver and gold levels, retail apprenticeships and retail business mentoring delivered by Grey4Gold.

West Cheshire College’s Assistant Manager for Retail, Pat Koreman, who is also an independent retailer with her own shop in the Wirral, delivered a taster session to delegates on the Mary Portas guide to successful retailing.

This is a range of masterclasses designed to meet the needs of independent owners and managers of retail businesses and covers every stage of creating and running a successful retail business.  Steve Bridge, CORA Skills Shop Development Manager, said “We are excited to be able to offer CORA products and services to Chester retailers in order to support and help them grow and develop.

We received a lot of interest from the Chester Showcase and we are now working with those attendees in relation to delivering the relevant training and courses that will help support their business and their employees.

At Cheshire Oaks we deliver four seasonal training programmes every year. Each programme is developed with the retailers to ensure we are delivering training that is relevant and will impact positively upon their business.

I would like to hear from Chester retailers to discuss any training needs or skills gaps they have in order to explore as to whether this approach would be of benefit and how best CORA@Chester can support them.”To find out more and how CORA@Chester can support your retail business or to book onto one of our courses please contact the CORA team on 0151 355 9487 or you can email Steve Bridge or Lee Wright at s.bridge@west-cheshire.ac.uk or l.wright@west-cheshire.ac.uk

College students help raise a fashionable amount for charity

Cheshire Oaks Employee is named 'THE UK'S FINEST RETAIL APPRENTICE'

Rachel Fellows (19) from Papermill has just been named 'THE UK'S FINEST RETAIL APPRENTICE' at the Skillsmart Retail Rising Stars Awards held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

She was presented her trophy by Ryman Chairman and Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis who said of her  she is an inspiration to the industry and a great example of the drive, commitment and enthusiasm required to make it in retail. Rachel shows every sign of becomming one of tomorrow's retail leaders.'

Rachel said 'I've enjoyed my apprenticeship course because I'm passionate about retail  and my job. I love working with people and enjoy what I'm doing.'

Also in the apprentice of the year category was Laura Morgan  (21) from Columbia Sports and in the National Skills Academy for Retail leanrner of the year category was 17 year old Faye Furnival who had both impressed the judges.