While most of us trudge around the shops for last-minute Christmas gifts, students from Adam Smith College have been benefitting from their own retail therapy to help them secure new jobs in the New Year.
Students studying Pre-employment Retail in the College’s recently launched Retail Academy in Kirkcaldy have been putting the finishing touches to a fabulous Christmas themed window display as well as enjoying work placements with a number of High Street retailers including Semi-Chem, Poundland, The Chickenshop, International, Next, Asda and Sainbury’s.
The course runs for 18 weeks, three days per week and includes a six week part-time placement.
Shona Brooks (40) from Kirkcaldy is grateful to the course which has helped her secure part-time work in Asda, Kirkcaldy. Said Shona: “The course covers a wide range of subjects such as customer service, health and safety, selling skills and numeracy. I was able to put all of my new skills and knowledge into practice during my work placement which also helped me secure my job in the Bakery at Asda in Kirkcaldy which I am enjoying very much.”
Shona’s daughter, Sarah-Anne Stewart (23), is also on the course and enjoying a placement in the Chickenshop, Kirkcaldy.
Maureen Wright, Retail Lecturer at Adam Smith College said: “The students have worked very hard throughout the course and their recently completed window display is fantastic. Not only does this course provide students with the right skills and knowledge in retail they also gain experience and get the opportunity to up-date their CVs and obtain references. All of this makes them much more employable and ready for the job market.”
A new range of Pre-employment Retail Courses start in February 2011 at the College’s Priory Campus, Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth Campus, Victoria Road, Leven.