Harrods to honour staff with sales degrees

Press release issued: 22 June 2010



Harrods logo
Harrods is to become the UK's first store to offer sales staff a BA (Hons) Sales degree in the 'art of selling'. The launch of this undergraduate degree puts the retailer at the forefront of the emerging trend for private companies to develop nationally recognised qualifications with universities.

Harrods Learning and Development Manager Arkin Salih said:

"As a business we are wholly committed to investing in our sales force and by creating a degree tailored to the needs of the luxury retail environment we are proud to be setting new standards in our sector. This will be the qualification for retail employees wishing to bolster their sales professionalism whilst investing for their long-term career planning."

Harrods, whose workforce already boasts an impressive international reputation, devised the unique programme in conjunction with leading academics from the Ashcroft International Business School at Anglia Ruskin University. Practical and theoretical modules on human behaviour, psychology and business enterprise have been devised to deepen sales skills and effectiveness and to generate originality and innovation. The result will be a group of highly skilled graduates eligible to be fast-tracked within the business, with long term career prospects boosted by their new qualification.

Vice Chancellor at Anglia Ruskin University, Professor Michael Thorne said:

"Harrods is the world's most famous department store with a reputation for retail staff training that is second to none. Anglia Ruskin University is incredibly proud to be helping to further empower its personnel through the delivery of this new higher level skills training."

From June this year a group of current employees, some of whom may not otherwise have considered higher education, will begin studying the intensive 24-month degree course alongside their current sales roles. This work-based degree enables employees to study and achieve an academic qualification alongside their day-to-day work responsibilities. View the video for more information.

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