If keeping your closet in order is a challenge, spare a thought for Dave Chambers and his team.

They are responsible for suiting and booting around 90,000 people a week while managing the ultimate walk-in wardrobe of 350,000 items of clothing.

Based at Dewhirst's Hendon depot in Sunderland they receive clothing shipped mainly from the Far East, catalogue and store it and then despatch it to meet orders from retailers around the UK and overseas.

With such a responsibility the Warehouse Manager decided some special training was in order to help his 28 strong team supply customers, such as Marks and Spencer, with the latest lines.

Access was called in to provide both the NVQ Level 2 and Apprenticeship courses in Warehousing and the results are already evident.

As Dave said,

"There is no doubt that we have become a more efficient operation, increasing our weekly turnover by about 40%. That's an extra 25,000 items being received or distributed and we've only added two extra members of staff.

Everyone is much clearer about their role within the process and people are really thinking about what they do and why, rather than just working on automatic pilot. This makes for much better organisation and team working."

Gary Thorpe, Skills Adviser with Access, added,

"There was a complete cross section of learners from dyed in the wool seniors to fresh faced youngsters but everyone took to the training with enthusiasm."

Funding for the training was provided by Skillfast-UK - the sector skills council for fashion and textiles which has been working with the Learning and Skills Council to promote learning and development through the Future Textiles initiative.

Photo: Access Skills Adviser, Gary Thorpe with Warehouse Manager, Dave Chambers and his team.