Home improvements expert invests £150k in training after "record" year

A North East home improvement specialist has announced that it is investing more than £150k in a new training academy for its staff.

Pennine Home Improvements, which has showrooms in Durham and Newcastle, is making the six-figure investment after a “record” year in which it brought in £10m of orders.

The new Pennine Way Sales Academy will train sales staff to guide clients through the home improvement process, with a focus on listening and providing ‘real value’.

The firm has established the Sales Academy with the aid of its parent company, the Conservatory Outlet.

Jonathan Young, managing director at Pennine Home Improvements, commented: “Covid-19 has been a very difficult period, but it has taught us many different lessons, some of which gave us food for thought on how we could deliver even better levels of service.

“We had switched the sales process from face-to-face to virtual, carrying out initial consultations by video call and using our own specially designed app to bring the homeowner’s vision into reality. Despite not having the showrooms for a long period of time, we still managed to break our record order intake.”

“This gave us the confidence to press the button on the Pennine Way Sales Academy, a new way of selling that could transform our sector forever.

“The emphasis is on creating salespeople who take an even greater consultative approach, have excellent product knowledge and are employed by us from the start, meaning we have the best possible chance of nurturing talent and they have access to excellent training and mentoring from experienced staff.

“Our ranges really excite homeowners, but it’s the people that really make Pennine different and our recent investment will ensure we continue to set the standard when it comes to customer service.”