Harrods: introducing selling degree.

From this month staff at upmarket London department store Harrods will be able to study for a degree in sales. The retailer has revealed it is to offer a two-year BA honours course to staff as part of a plan to boost career prospects.

Employees will learn about ‘the art of selling’, taking modules on human behaviour, psychology and business enterprise as part of the course developed in connection with academics at Anglia Ruskin University. Harrods is believed to be the first retailer to offer a complete degree.

Staff employed in sales roles at the department store and who have at least two years’ relevant work experience are being encouraged to apply for the degree, which they can study for alongside their work.

Luxury retail environment

Harrods learning and development manager, Arkin Salih told ModernSelling.com: ‘As a business, we are wholly committed to investing in our sales force and, by creating a degree tailored to the needs of the luxury retail environment, we are proud to be setting new standards in our sector.

Salih added: ‘This will be the qualification for retail employees wishing to bolster their sales professionalism whilst investing for their long-term career planning.’

Fast track

Graduates will be fast-tracked within the company and will be encouraged to make full use of their newly-learned sales skills.

The world-famous emporium occupies a 4.5-acre site and has more than 330 departments covering over one million square feet.

Anglia Ruskin University achieved university status in 1992 and now boasts a student population of 25,500. Vice-chancellor Professor Michael Thorne said: ‘Harrods is the world’s most famous department store with a reputation for retail staff training that is second to none. Anglia Ruskin University is incredibly proud to be helping to further empower its personnel through the delivery of this new higher-level skills training.’

For sale

It was announced last month that Mohamed al Fayed, now honorary chairman of Harrods, has decided to sell the store and retire. The Qatari royal family is buying Harrods for a reported £1.5 billion through Qatar Holdings, the investment arm of the Qatar Investment Authority, which trades on behalf of the state.

Hyundai ix35: posh window display.

Hyundai display

Meanwhile, when Hyundai decided to look beyond traditional dealerships to put its new ix35 crossover model on display earlier this month, it opted to go for the most prestigious shop front in the world. The dazzling white ix35 – a top-of-the-range premium model – was showcased for a week in Harrods' Brompton Road window displays, with staff members from Hyundai Motor UK on hand to answer any product questions about the new car.

Hyundai's managing director, Tony Whitehorn told ModernSelling.com at the time: ‘We are very proud to have our newest model on display in such an iconic location. Like everything in Harrods, the ix35 has been designed to be stylish, great value and of the highest quality.’

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