THE Brunel has announced an innovative new initiative aimed at assisting retail staff in developing their business and retail skills.

The Brunel Retail Academy, believed to be the first such shopping centre-led scheme in the UK, launched in March and sees a programme of monthly half-day courses, which are free to attend.

The courses cover skills from recruitment skills to visual display training and e-marketing to operations planning.

Specialist supplier Made You Look undertook the first session, on visual display training, which saw an impressive turnout representing more than 20 per cent of the scheme’s tenants.

Louise Norton, manager of Revolva, said: “The session gave me lots of new ideas and contacts for props and display items.

“We’re going to be building on what we’re already doing by adding more colour and lighting to our window displays.”

A large number of the courses will be delivered as a part of a new partnership between The Brunel and Swindon College, as part of which NVQ students at the college will use empty units to practise their merchandising skills. For more information visit www.thebrunel.co.uk.