Westgate staff take the lead
Success for management course
Four senior staff at Hartlepool’s leading department store have shown what they’re made of after achieving a merit pass or distinction on a management course.
The ladies, who all work at the Westgate Department Store in Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, are now fully qualified to work in supervisory roles after proving themselves on the company’s Team Leader Development Programme, run over 12 weeks in 2004.
Karen Moore, Sharon Feeney, Deborah Poad and Margi Peek were all required to demonstrate clear skills in communication, leadership, motivation and conflict resolution, as well as the ability to develop and manage the teams in their respective departments.
The course consisted of three residential sessions at Westgate’s headquarters in Peterborough, followed up with home study modules and a work-based assignment.
Karen Moore said: “We were all given the opportunity to complete this course and felt that it would benefit our future careers with Westgate. I certainly feel better equipped to manage a team as the course complemented my existing experience and skills, while I believe that we all gained confidence and improved our communication skills.”
Karen, Debbie and Sharon were all former employees of Hartlepool’s Northern Electric showroom, which closed in 2004. The ladies have all proven to be wise appointments for Westgate, along with Margi, who had previously worked at Peacocks.
Sharon Williams, store manager, said: “Westgate is part of the Anglia Co-operative Society, which places a high priority on staff training and development. Even before the course was finished, all four ladies have been demonstrating their newly acquired skills on the shop floor, helping to build staff morale and maintain the high standards our customers expect.”
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