On-line Training

These troubling times have encouraged many to find ways to support our businesses and employees by thinking outside the box and out of our comfort zone. We are all looking for ways to cut costs, stay afloat and hold on to our employees. My own fledgling business is no different and ,like you, I am concerned about what the coming months might bring.

It’s important to support ourselves and our employees, by finding ways to bring some routine into our lives and help us to feel valued. But also, to try to adapt to the new way of operating and find ways of carrying out our business in the new Post-Covid world.

As a remote business, usually travelling to my clients in far-flung parts of Scotland, it seemed logical to adapt by offering on-line training from the comfort of my home to yours. Not only does it satisfy the requirements of social distancing but also is by removing the need to travel, my business has become greener and leaner! The benefits of on-line training for your business are the links back to the workplace, benefitting both the business and employee, honing and learning new skills whilst unable to work, lower costs of the courses and less time away from the business.

Remote-based learning, done correctly, can be an excellent training tool which is accessible, flexible and is a way of re-establishing social interaction. There can be obstacles such as the quality of internet connection, technical knowledge and access to suitable equipment, however, I’ve found that by being flexible and understanding, most of these difficulties can easily be overcome.

Online training can be highly effective, particularly if kept to short bursts of learning. I try to keep sessions short with adequate breaks. Studies have also shown learners are five times more likely to absorb and retain information through online learning. Also regular testing halves learner distraction and improves overall retention.

We offer on-line training for:-
SCPLH Personal Licence training
World Host Principals of Customer Service
WorldHost 2020 – Covid19 Business Readiness Solutions

Contact NorthStar today to enquire about your On-Line training

The North Coast Road Trip & beyond…

They might come 500 miles
But will they come 500 more?
Give a great welcome they’ll not forget
And beat a track back to your door

Make the North Coast Road Trip work for you!

Four key tips to make them dream about the time they spent with you…
  1. Train your staff
  2. Retain your staff
  3. Wow your customers
  4. Engage with your customers

Repeat business is the key! Did you know that it costs five times more to attract a new customer than it does to keep an existing one?

Ensuring that you deliver excellent service will make the difference between your business surviving and thriving.

Let’s go into a little more detail:-

website-skills

  1. Train your Staff
    In order to provide the best customer service, your team must necessarily be educated in mandatory skills such as Food & Hygiene and Manual Handling but the winning combination comes from giving them the knowledge to properly represent your business and inspiring them to promote it.

Create a clear induction system and training programme. Get the basics right at the beginning of your employee’s journey and then use these building blocks to create the team you need. Give your team the skills to deal with every situation effectively and efficiently.

NorthStar Consultancy can help you deliver and administer affordable, time efficient training, including the inspirational WorldHost Principles of Customer Service programme.

website-insert-motivate

  1. Retain your Staff!
    Quality training also helps with staff retention by allowing your team members feel empowered and valued.  However, the key to keeping your staff is to engage them!  They need to experience what your customers experience! Share the detail behind your menus, your business aims, vision and give them regular news updates.

Share your enthusiasm for your business by coaching your team with new skills, passing on knowledge and encouraging them to share feedback and ideas!

Experience the Customer Experience
Nurture knowledge with news updates
Generate passion by sampling and tasting
Aims and vision are shared
Give generously by passing on knowledge & skills
Encourage team members to have a voice


Ensure your Contracts and Job Descriptions are up-to-date, clear and representative of the job your team members are carrying out. A simple appraisal system works really well and needn’t be time consuming or onerous.

Want a helping hand?
NorthStar Consultancy can help you keep it simple and effective

website-insert-wow

  1. Wow your customers
    How do we WOW? Its simple really – just think of an occasion when another business impressed you and made you feel deliriously happy and take it from there! Always go above and beyond the call of duty!


Here’s how to WOW in 10 easy steps:-

  1. The “First Date” counts
    To win over new customers, it’s essential to “click” immediately- get it right first time!
  1. Be genuine – be present – pay attention – above all, LISTEN
  1. Lose the “NO” word
    If you can’t fulfill your customer’s need, suggest an alternative or another business who can
  1. Respond quickly
    Answer phones within 3 rings & return calls, reply to emails within 2 hours
  1. Deal with situations as they arise & make them triumphs!
    Turn the situation around and really pull out all the stops. Offer more than the customer may expect. Just go that extra mile!
  1. Acknowledge every customer as they enter
    A friendly “hello” is best, but if you’re serving a customer, then a smile or eye contact is the next best!
  1. Treat non-paying customers the same as paying customers
    This could be someone asking for directions, a public servant, a tradesman, a salesperson or family of a team member.  They are all potential customers after all!
  1. Be proactive
    Double guess what your customer may want/need and suggest it before they ask. This is especially important with elderly or disabled customers, nursing mothers and families.
  1. Add personality
    Be yourself! Be friendly and charming! Ask the customer about themselves.
  1. Do something unexpected
    It doesn’t have to be a big gesture – just a little thing to make someone feel special. It could be birthday card, a little note, some flowers, a cupcake!  You can guarantee they’ll tell their friends and what’s more, you’ll feel great too!

NorthStar Consultancy can coach your team to deliver WoW Customer service and is licensed to deliver the WorldHost “Principles of Customer Service” programme.

website-insert-communicate

  1. Engage your customers
    After that “First Date” it’s essential to keep reminding your customers what a wonderful time they had at your business, and give them reasons to come again!In these tech-y times, reaching out to your customers is easy and effective.Create engaging content on your social media streams, post daily but mix it up by sharing interesting posts, using powerful pictures, asking questions, making statements  –  lots of little snippets to whet their appetite!Encourage your customers to complete an exit survey,  either a paper handout or a card with an on-line link. Don’t be above bribery – offer free entry into a prize draw for an appealing but inexpensive prize such as coffee and cakes for two – creating a list of recipients for your monthly newsletters!Create an event and advertise it through your business – customers love a special occasion and will share with friends. The photos shared through Social Media will be enough to keep your customers engaged for weeks to come!

Need help designing an exit survey or planning an event?
Need basic training in Social Media?

Get in touch with NorthStar Consultancy  today

– make them dream about being back with you…