| Carnegie Students Go Shopping for Debenhams |
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Carnegie College’s School of Access and Communities has been working closely with staff from the new Debenhams store which is due to open in Dunfermline in August of this year. The College designed and developed an intensive two week pre-recruitment retail course aimed at those who were keen to gain part-time employment with the new Debenhams store. Working in partnership with the JobcentrePlus Carnegie’s course was open to those who were registered unemployed. Nine students successfully undertook the course.
Diane MacLeod, Programme Tutor based at Carnegie's Access Centre at the New Row in Dunfermline, speaking about the course said "We designed the course primarily for those looking for employment as sales advisers or catering assistants, with a view to building personal self-confidence and communication skills together with developing sales and presentation techniques. All have enjoyed the sales training and say they are a lot more confident and more aware of what is required to work in the retail sector which is a lot more involved than they had imagined! They are very keen to be part of such a big development for Dunfermline". The course involved the group visiting the Debenhams Ocean Terminal store, spending the morning as 'mystery shoppers' to gain experience of customer care from the other side of the counter. The students were also given a presentation addressing both personal and business security issues by local Community Police Officer PC Martin Bamford. Diane went on to say "The course also covered interview techniques and all the students took part in 'mock' interviews which will have given them good experience for when they undertake the 'real thing'. The nine students who completed the course have secured assessment days with Debenhams with a view to employment at the Dunfermline store. Looking to the future, we hope to hold further similar courses and working closely with JobcentrePlus and Debenhams". On Friday 11 April, eight of the nine students were presented with certificates to mark their achievements by Janet McCauslin, Assistant Principal, Carnegie College, local MP Willie Rennie and representing Debenhams, Dunfermline, Sales Manager Joyce Dorovik.
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