Report OL171 Open Learning for a Remote Workforce

In 1989 the British Association of Professional Hairdressing Employers (BAPHE) carried out a major study which investigated some of the problems that were facing the hairdressing industry in terms of high staff turnover. The hairdressing and beauty industry has traditionally attracted a young and mobile workforce. The BAPHE report set out to establish the long-term business effects of this. The results of the report were clear; many young salon managers were inadequately trained. This was a significant cause of low morale and poor staff retention. The frequent inadequacy of training could itself be attributed to a perceived shortage of appropriate courses in this specific aspect of management by Further Education Colleges across the country.

The training initiative was jointly funded by Glemby (Europe) Ltd. and the Employment Department through the Business Growth Training Programme. The purpose of the initiative was to achieve business improvement through the development of an innovative training programme using Open Learning methods. The objectives were to reduce unacceptably high levels of staff turnover in order to achieve increased profits at salon level. These targets were quantified. A reduction of 15% in staff turnover was sought along with a 2% growth in gross profit. The programme was highly successful and the initial targets were exceeded.

The Glemby project represents a classic Open Learning application. The target group is numerically significant, remote and heterogeneous.

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This page last updated 24 January 1999.