Learning and development

At WHSmith we are passionate about providing learning opportunities for all employees to grow and develop their careers; and to enable and drive outstanding business performance.

For employees across our Stores and Head offices the Learning and Development Team offer a range of workshops and self directed learning material to support induction and in role development. We also use technology to support the day to day learning and up skilling of our store and field based teams.

National Learning at Work Day is the biggest annual celebration of workplace learning and at WHSmith we support this by providing our employees access to a variety of learning opportunities across the whole group. This actively promotes employee engagement through the encouragement of cross functional learning and the sharing of knowledge. Given the number of participants every year, it continues to be a very popular initiative with employees.

Steve Clarke Managing Director High Street

At WHSmith, we are also dedicated to supporting our staff in maximising their own potential and to develop their careers with the Company. To enable this, we have a process to identify, develop and support via our talent development programmes.

• Future Store Managers and Supervisors, through the WHSmith Retail Academy
• High Potential / Future Business Leaders, through a number of different interventions and our Head Office Development Programmes

Case Study - Christian, Store Manager

"Throughout my career, I have had numerous opportunities to develop and refine my management style. From operational skills to emotional intelligence, leadership behaviours to management best practice, I have always had my needs as an individual identified and supported. The great thing about WHSmith is that development does not finish at the end of a training session; through mentoring and ongoing support, you are provided with a network that works hard to see you progress and succeed within your chosen role.

Thanks to the support of the Learning and Development Team, I progressed from being a Customer Sales Assistant to running my own business as a Store Manager in less than three years. Training was offered on a regular basis, through courses, telephone and internet conferences and one-to-one support. This coupled with a personal desire to succeed allowed me to develop the many qualities needed to work in such a fast paced, but highly rewarding retail environment.”  Christian Roberts-Smith, Store Manager, Swindon

WHSmith is also an active supporter of the Campaign for Learning’s ‘Learning at Work Day’ with the whole business getting involved to promote a wide range of learning activities.  In the past 5 years we have actively promoted ‘Learning at Work’ with more employees getting involved year on year.