Nisa has become the first symbol group to launch staff training scheme RetailPlus throughout its entire organisation.

The training scheme covers areas such as age-related sales, food safety, security and loss prevention, consumer law and customer service. A workbook can be completed in two to three weeks, and they have been written to national standards that have been designed by leading UK retailers and Skillsmart.

May Pettit of Nisa in Wrexham started her team off with the Underage Sales Prevention workbook after failing a test purchase visit. "The trading standards officer was pursuing a hard line so it was important to get the staff up to speed," she said. "We're using it to help create procedures to address the way we want to react in certain situations, and it has helped us build a better working relationship with our trading standards officer."

Pettit added that the training has helped her staff's confidence. "An owner can't do everything and be there all of the time," she said. "The investment in training has helped unlock the staff's potential. My staff can take the initiative and do a lot more."