The most important element of successful change is never to let your people get offside, says Marie Gill, head of organizational development at UK supermarket Asda, which recently merged with Wal‐Mart, one of the world’s largest retailers. She was speaking at a forum organized by Brathay, a...

Harrods, the luxury‐store group, has used drama‐based learning to bring a new dimension to presentation‐skills training for its managers – focussing on the personal presence, energy and enthusiasm of the presenter – and to help its menswear department to deliver excellent service. With...

Purpose – Describes how UK coffee‐store brand Costa has reduced the turnover of its shop‐floor staff by almost 20 percent. Design/methodology/approach – Sketches the relationship between Costa and assessment‐tool specialist PSL and explains the role of PSL in the turnaround. Findings...

Purpose – Describes how two UK organizations – Dollond & Aitchison (D&A) opticians and Winfield Transport – significantly reduced employee turnover through training programs that won national training awards. Design/methodology/approach – Contains information from D&A's head of training...

Purpose – Focuses on how The Body Shop is fostering and developing its global leaders. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is extracted from a research report that examines what is required for effective global leadership in an increasingly complex global marketplace through...

Purpose – The paper examines how the process of making a video for the annual general meeting helped to build teamwork among senior managers at the Milton Keynes branch of UK retailer John Lewis. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents the viewpoint of the branch managing director,...

Purpose – The paper aims to examine two award‐winning schemes in the UK that aim to provide retailers with skilled employees. Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses on: the Cheshire Oaks Retail Academy (Cora), an initiative of Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council, the West...

Purpose – Describes award‐winning training that has boosted diamond sales at UK jeweller Ernest Jones. Design/methodology/approach – Draws on information provided in the company's submission to the UK National Training Awards. Findings – Reveals that the training for 20 Ernest Jones...

Purpose – This article describes an award‐winning training programme that has helped Somerfield supermarkets to prepare potential managers from within the company for posts at senior‐manager/executive level. Design/methodology/approach – Draws on information provided by the company's...