Giving power to service station people

Esso’s Retail Operating Company (ROC) UK is investing in its people by offering its service station staff the chance to study for national level qualifications and apprenticeships.

Under the banner of GROW, the initiative is part of a government-funded scheme, and is being delivered in conjunction with Retail’s existing training programmes.

Staff are being offered the chance to advance their careers and progress internally, which can improve not only sales performance but also their motivation and retention.

The training consists of on-the-job learning and a focus on technical and key skills, namely numeracy and literacy.

Any sales adviser can apply, and so far hundreds of people have expressed interest.

The programme should continue the Retail team’s award-winning success. Esso was widely recognised at the petrol retailing industry’s most prestigious awards event, picking up six top honours at the 2009 Forecourt Trader of the Year Awards.

The company won three awards for On the Run locations, two for dealer sites and one for a major ROC initiative at the annual event, which recognises the entrepreneurial skills, imagination and dedication of UK petrol retailers.

The Best Oil Company Initiative category win was for Safety in Action, ROC’s safety programme that has reduced incidents by more than 80 per cent.