By building employee skills, particularly in the areas of leadership training, communication and customer service, PAK’nSAVE can set their teams up for success,
adding value not only to the business itself, but also to the lives of their staff, families and communities.

Free customised and targeted courses, developed in close consultation with PAK’nSAVE managers and supervisors, ensure employees are upskilled in the specific areas they need to be – from processing online grocery orders and stocking shelves more efficiently, to assisting customers with confidence, upskilling in health and safety, and improving leadership capabilities.

Ensuring staff understand and follow health and safety policies and procedures is a top priority for PAK’nSAVE. Aspire2 Business | Workplace Communication works directly with each store to understand their processes and develop training programmes that directly target them.

Aspire2 Business | Workplace Communication has helped numerous North Island PAK’nSAVE stores increase their productivity and performance through targeting training that upskills their people. Successful outcomes also means we come back year after year tailoring to new groups and new needs.

All participating PAK’nSAVE supermarkets have invested in communication and customer service training, while leadership programmes have also been offered at some stores. Managers and senior leadership teams have seen first-hand the positive impact this training has had on the business, and learner feedback has been excellent.

“This course is making me better at supporting my team and helping me make people more accountable for what they do.”

“As a leader I am applying what we have learnt when having discussions with my team, creating engaging conversations, speaking clearly and saying what I mean.”

Thanks to the Aspire2 Business | Workplace Communication programme, PAK’nSAVE staff are more engaged than ever before, and see more opportunities to advance their careers within the company.

With PAK’nSAVE’s multicultural workforce, ensuring training programmes are culturally inclusive and take into account all learners’ needs is vital. Aspire2 Business | Workplace Communication trainers assess staff individually, working closely with senior leadership teams to develop specific course content. By growing the communication skills and confidence of employees, all areas of the business benefit.

Says Kobie Henry, H R Manager at PAK’nSAVE Ormiston,

“As a direct result of the programme my staff have grown in confidence, and they feel more able to raise issues and communicate on a professional level. They are more engaged in their roles and really invested in the business as they feel they have a voice, and we are listening.”

“One of our employees, Rona, was extremely reluctant to do the course. I struck a deal with her that if she went for three weeks and still didn’t want to participate, I’d let her leave the programme. She loved it and you could really see her personality shine – even outside of work.”

When customers write in to store managers praising staff who have just completed their Workplace Communication training, it’s clear that the programme is
bringing big benefits.

Previously lacking in confidence and uncomfortable talking to store customers, Nathan from PAK’nSAVE Tauriko completed his Workplace Communication course earlier this year. A letter from a satisfied customer speaks volumes about the progress he made during the programme.

“I am writing to commend one of your staff, identifiable only by his name tag: Nathan. My wife and I were at your store today, and my wife asked Nathan about a product we’d like to see on your shelves – Avalanche Instant Coffee. Nathan’s response was friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable. He was able to answers my wife’s questions to her full satisfaction, and related well to her, despite the wide disparity in ages.”