Increasing investment in learning and development for new store colleagues by over £4m
Revamped academy at iconic Fort Dunlop building in Birmingham doubles in size with £3m overhaul
Dixons Carphone, the business behind brands including Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse, has underscored its commitment to customer service by unveiling a state-of-the-art facility that will double the training hours invested in new colleagues.
‘The Academy@Fort Dunlop’, which is based in the iconic building in Birmingham, has opened its doors to new colleagues today (Monday, September 23) following a £3m revamp, in partnership with key suppliers. The academy will immerse Dixons Carphone colleagues in the retailer’s vision, ‘We Help Everyone Enjoy Amazing Technology’, and help them bring it to life for customers in stores.
The learning hub, which will have an intake of over 6,000 colleagues annually, will provide new colleagues with an additional 400,000 hours of colleague training a year, representing an investment of more than £4m.
The ‘Ignite’ 90 day learning and development plan, which will be rolled out to all new colleagues by February, begins as a three-day residential induction at The Academy@Fort Dunlop and learning continues in stores.
As well as introducing new colleagues to Dixons Carphone’s vision and strategic priorities, the induction will equip them with the skills to give first-class customer service and help customers choose, afford and enjoy the right products for them. These ‘Customer First’ sessions will also provide colleagues with life skills they can use at work and in their day-to-day lives.
The academy will also run sessions for managers to help them support the colleagues’ continued learning in stores and suppliers will use the space to demonstrate their amazing technology and new products. The 19,000sq ft facility includes four mock store environments, eight training rooms and 22 supplier zones.
Dixons Carphone unveiled its new strategy in December, with a commitment to investing in learning and development for its 20,000 UK & Ireland colleagues who are closest to customers.
All colleagues are also shareholders in the business after being awarded £1,000 in shares at the launch of the business’s transformation, ensuring all colleagues are aligned and energised behind the new strategy.
Dixons Carphone Chief People Officer, Paula Coughlan, said: “Capable and committed colleagues are our greatest advantage. We want Dixons Carphone to continue to be a magnet for great talent and we are investing more than ever before in giving our colleagues the tools and skills to put our customers first from their first day in store.
“The Academy@Fort Dunlop is about giving our colleagues the best possible start to their careers with us, so that they can help our customers choose, afford and enjoy amazing technology.”
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and former Managing Director of John Lewis, said: "I am delighted that Dixons Carphone has chosen the West Midlands for this multimillion pound investment and I look forward to working with them.
"This investment will further cement Fort Dunlop's status as a key employment destination for the West Midlands, as well as helping to shine the spotlight even further on one of the region's most well-loved buildings.
"Retail is an important driver of the economy here in the West Midlands and around the UK, so I am especially pleased that The Academy@Fort Dunlop will train the next generation of retail workers, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to help drive the retail sector forward."
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For further information please contact:
Amy Shields
Head of External Communications
amy.shields@dixonscarphone.com
Madina Lataria
Press Officer
madina.lataria@dixonscarphone.com
About Dixons Carphone:
Dixons Carphone plc is a leading multinational consumer electrical and mobile retailer and services company, employing over 42,000 people in nine countries. We Help Everyone Enjoy Amazing Technology, however they choose to shop with us.
We are the market leader in the UK & Ireland, throughout the Nordics and in Greece. With a full range of services and support, we make it easy for our customers to discover, choose and enjoy the right technology for them, throughout the life of the product. Our core multichannel operations are supported by an impressive distribution network and sourcing office in Hong Kong and a state-of-the-art repair facility in Newark, UK.
Our brands include Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse in the UK & Ireland and iD Mobile in the UK; Elkjøp, Elgiganten and Gigantti in the Nordics; and Kotsovolos in Greece. Our Dixons Travel brand has a presence across several UK airports as well as in Dublin and Oslo, and our services are provided through Team Knowhow in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics.
