EFS shortlisted for Training award...... 

Everyday Financial Solutions (EFS) have reached the finals of the 20th National Training Awards. A testament to the commitment, skill and capabilities that are needed to support the implementation of mergers in the Financial Service sector. 

EFS was created by merging the Financial Services business of Littlewoods and Shop Direct, two retailers who were acquired by private equity investors and which combined now form the UK's biggest shop @ home group.

EFS offers the customers of Littlewoods Shop Direct Home Shopping Limited brands a range of credit, cards, insurance and warranty offerings.

In all, the training programme enabled large scale redundancy to be avoided, it supported over 750 new staff to be integrated quickly into the new business and over 500 existing staff to retrain and enhance their skills and capabilities.

The major training initiative was a result of the relocation of work and people following the rationalisation of the combined business locations from eight to three.

Key aspects of this massive training initiative during 2005/06 were:

• Recruitment and training of new staff to the state-of-the-art contact centre in Aintree, Liverpool.
• Retraining of all staff in Bolton and Sunderland to support the implementation of revised business process

Managing people change is a crucial aspect of business integration. When done well, as in the case of EFS, it is a major contributor to integration success.

We wish everyone good luck for the future at EFS. We look forward to hearing further great news from an exciting business into 2007 and beyond.