Learning and Development – Retail

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As our business continues to grow, we’re changing too. So we’re always creating opportunities for retail professionals who want to be part of a supportive team and an award-winning business.

We continue to put in place all the training and development tools and programmes that help you to get comfortable and confident in your role and ready for new opportunities as they arise.

So whether you have no retail experience or are ready to take your skills and knowledge to the next level, you’ll find we offer everything you need to get where you want to be.

The Step Up Development Programme

  • Step Up to Pet Colleague
  • Step Up to Pet Expert
  • Step Up to Pet Specialist

Step Up to Pet Colleague

All our colleagues enjoy and benefit from this 4 step programme to help them find their feet, be confident in their role and ready for new opportunities:

Section 1: Welcome to Pets at Home

Online training that includes:

  • Vets
  • Grooming
  • Barkers
  • Insurance etc.

Section 2: Introduction to Pets

Online training and workbook that includes:

  • Small Animals
  • Aquatics (routines, process)
  • Reptiles
  • Birds

Section 3: Nutrition & Wellbeing

Online training that includes:

  • Moggies
  • Doggies
  • Healthy Pets

Section 4: Pets at Home Specialist

Online training and 3 workbooks to complete, covering:

  • Aquatics
  • Rabbit & Guinea Pig
  • More Specialist (Vets & Grooming)

Throughout and as part of your induction, all colleagues complete online tests to check your knowledge on Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity and Pet Insurance, for example.

As well as the Step Up to Pet Colleague programme, you’ll also be expected to complete our Nutrition Consultant course in your first 12 months with us.

Plus, if you successfully complete the programme within 12 months, you’ll enjoy an Earn As You Learn (EAYL) payment on your Pet Birthday (the anniversary of your start date).

Step Up to Pet Expert

Experienced colleagues who have completed 12 months’ service and the Step Up to Pet Colleague programme can progress the next stage.

Step Up to Pet Expert offers the opportunity to develop new areas of expertise by completing a workbook, online activities, your portfolio and an expertise course.

Complete the Step Up to Pet Expert programme and a year’s experience and you’ll qualify for the EAYL payment of an additional 20p per hour.

Step Up to Pet Specialist

For those colleagues whose passion for pets and retail knows no bounds, the Step Up to Pet Specialist programme is designed to stretch and challenge their ambitions.

Pet Specialists are those colleagues who have successfully completed all the Pet Expert programmes and have at least 5 years’ experience working with Pets at Home.

Management Development Programmes

Beyond our Step Up programmes, we have a range of training designed to help develop colleagues and support their progress to management and beyond.

Rising Stars

This six month programme will help you to the first step of your management career as an Assistant Manager. You’ll get to learn by taking part in a key business project, attending four courses over six months and discovering the key tasks and responsibilities of an Assistant Manager.

Moving On Up

Focusing on the key elements of a Deputy Manager’s role, this six month programme will also help you to understand and develop some of the key people skills that are required.

Fast Track

It’s an active and dynamic programme that also has helped to generate fantastic ideas and business improvements, so you’ll be learning in real time and on the job.