New academy is taking the Encon Group’s customer service to higher levels

The interface between specialist distributors and manufacturers and installers of insulation and interior building products, including suspended ceilings, partitioning and drywall systems, has been taken to a new level with the launch of a training academy by the Encon Group. The Encon Group companies, which include specialist distributors Encon Insulation and Nevill Long, have unveiled the academy at their North West branch in Chorley, to help their employees provide added value and superior service to their specialist contractor customers. The Encon Group claims to be one of the first companies in the industry to offer an academy approach and has invested over the last few years in training its workforce in the areas of sales, leadership and operations.

The academy building itself takes this to a whole new level and was recently shortlisted in the AIS (Association of Interior Specialists) Best Practice Awards’ Training Best Practice category. The build by Dan Cuzner Partitioning encompasses five main areas, all showcasing manufacturer customers’ new and inventive design ideas, while remaining a functional and professional place to learn. A training area at the rear of the academy, with seating for 16 attendees and state-of-the-art projection capabilities, features Tektura WallTalkers on the projection wall.

Two meeting rooms are glazed with Nevill Long’s own-brand Longline Crystal partitioning system and encompass curved walls. Six floor-to-ceiling glass fins which divide breakout areas feature a woodland scene that is reinforced by a 5m wide “Encon Tree”, comprising the Encon Group business unit colours, representing organic growth and development – the objectives of the academy. Kev Topping, a structural sales executive in the group’s North West branch, has been on four courses to date to help him move from an internal to external, customer-facing role.

He said: “Without the courses I have attended, the transition would not have been as easy as it was. The trainers are so knowledgeable and experienced. The way they teach you is simple but effective. I learned more about myself and the type of person I am but also how to understand other people, customers, and this is an excellent tool to have. “The academy’s design and fit out is very purposeful for both academy use and also for meetings or seminars we may hold in the future to help us keep one step ahead of our competition.” Michael Skinner, manager of Encon’s East London branch, attended the Dale Carnegie business success programme.

He said: “I found the course really engaging and it has opened up my eyes to how I can best deliver Encon’s mission of being the employer and distributor of choice. The skills I learnt on the course will help me develop into the best manager I can be and will serve to have a positive influence on my business and more importantly on the people that make it all happen at East London. “The facilities at Chorley are second to none in the industry and the team from Dale Carnegie were extremely skilled in their approach. I think it’s a testament to their delivery style that so many of us from the course are continuing to look for ways to implement the techniques and are looking forward to the next instalment of our training.” Julia Hargreaves, senior credit controller at Encon Group head office in Wetherby, added: “I found both my courses very insightful and enjoyable.

They will definitely be of use in my role. They are great trainers, keeping us engaged and packaging everything in a way that was interesting and easy to take on board.” And Helen Cook, credit manager at Wetherby, said: “The academy has been completed to a very high standard while still having a relaxed feel around the place. I have found the training a great help so far in my day to day job, well worth the time spent.“

Stuart Moore, Encon Group chief executive and a passionate sponsor of the academy, said: “This next generation of the academy will open up opportunities in the ways we learn as well as partnerships with industry experts to ensure training quality is world class.” Project manager for the Encon academy launch, HR director Deborah Gore, said: “We are really proud of the final result of all the hard work that has gone in to the development of our very own Encon Academy Training Centre. It is a key investment in providing added value and superior service to all our customers, maintaining our position as the supplier, customer and employer of choice.”