Retail group invests in its staff

Feb 29 2008 by Tom Patterson, The Journal

A MAJOR North agricultural supply and retail business is launching a major staff training programme.

The Farmway Group, which employs 165 people across the region, has enlisted the help of the North East Chamber of Commerce to offer NVQ and apprenticeship programmes.

The firm, which has stores in Wooler, Morpeth and Hexham in Northumberland, Piercebridge in County Durham and Stokesley in Cleveland, is making a significant investment in training.

The North East Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest and most successful training providers in the region.

Iain Reynolds, Farmway’s Retail operations manager, said: “Agriculture is a difficult business to be in and with each year that passes, it seems to become even more difficult.

“The market is not as buoyant as it once was, and farming companies up and down the country have been going through hard times.

“Farmway is no exception, so we’ve looked at diversification, focusing on the types of customers we get, and in particular the way we run our retail outlets.

“Investment in new staff and training is the key area we identified.”

The company was formed in 1965 with the amalgamation of three farmer co-operatives, and now deals in anything and everything agricultural for the countryside dweller, from animal feed, seed, fertiliser and animal healthcare medicines to instruments, tools, garden supplies, pet food, clothing and equine sales.

NECC is now in the process of delivering training in customer service, warehousing and distribution and retail operations to 30 staff, with a further 20 to start over the next two months.

Eventually Farmway hopes to put its entire staff through a qualification with NECC.

Mr Reynolds said: “It is absolutely paramount that training will develop staff, it has to be more than just a piece of paper.

“Training has to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and motivation of our staff, because ultimately, these are the factors which will mean more satisfied customers, and more sales.”