Altrincham trainer scoops national award (From Messenger Newspapers)

TV Dragon Theo Paphitis presents national award to Altrincham trainer

1:00pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in News

AN Altrincham woman is celebrating after being named Retail Trainer of the Year at the 2012 Skillsmart Retail Rising Stars Awards.

Natalie Kay, 33, who works at The Manchester College’s Skills Shop, was hailed as one of the country’s up and coming stars of retail when she was presented with her award by TV Dragon Theo Paphitis, at the prestigious event in London.

The finalists took part in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style interview with the panel of judges before the final winners were announced.

On choosing Natalie as the overall winner in the highly contested category, the National Skills Academy for Retail judges said: “Natalie has got retail in her blood. She is fully commercially aware, able to channel her varied experience to help others and improve the business. She knows what to do, the impact of it and she is able to quantify her contributions.”

Natalie’s love of retail was born while she was still at school, taking up her first role as a Saturday girl in a local shop. Since then she has worked across multiple sectors of the retail industry including travel retail at Manchester International Airport, luxury retail and the beauty industry. Natalie’s career in retail culminated in launching Stella McCartney skincare to the domestic market in John Lewis, Cheadle.

Having experienced all angles of the retail industry throughout her career, Natalie was keen to enter the world of training. In August 2010 she joined the Manchester Skills Shop and has never looked back. From delivering the Mary Portas master classes to working with Zara and Debenhams as a retail assessor, Natalie has implemented training and business strategies for the retail sector across Greater Manchester.

Natalie said: “I was completely shocked and overwhelmed to win the award. It was a great evening and to hear my name called out was the icing on the cake.

“I have a real passion for retail and people, so when I am delivering training, this for me is really fun, and a chance to push the boundaries when equipping businesses with the tools they need. I love to see the inspiration delegates get from being on a course and the positive experience they take away is the most rewarding part of my job.”

Natalie is just one of a group of highly skilled and dedicated trainers and assessors who work at the Manchester Skills Shop at The Manchester College, who offer innovative training and recruitment tools to local retailers in the area.