LONDON: More than half of B&Q employees have enrolled for City & Guilds qualifications.

Latest figures released by B&Q show that over 17 000 of its employees have either enrolled on or completed a work-related qualification this year.

More than half of its work force has studied towards a Retail Skills NVQ, Home Improvement Knowledge Qualification or Retail Apprenticeship, developed in partnership with City & Guilds.

B&Q is now the largest user of City & Guilds qualifications in the retail sector. To mark this milestone, the retailer will be rolling out new badged aprons to its store teams so that customers will know that they are being served by an expert with a City & Guilds qualification. The new aprons will be in store by Christmas.

In September B&Q launched its Showroom Academy, a training school designed to give its showroom employees product, service and design skills across kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, carpets, flooring and show room appliances.

4000 employees in UK and Ireland have completed a City & Guilds approved, nationally recognised Home Improvement Knowledge Qualification.

This year the retailer has also launched its apprenticeship programme, a 12-month work-based programme. The qualifications are open to all non-management colleagues of all ages.