Avon is one of the world's leading beauty companies, and the biggest direct seller, with a global annual turnover of $8billion.
Avon UK continues to go from strength to strength and is the fourth largest Avon market in the world. There are over 100,000 UK-based Representatives working from a three-weekly brochure that is seen on average by over six million customers.
Client Need
Avon had previously designed and delivered their own management and leadership skills programmes in house. However, since the re-organisation of the global training and development functions it was necessary to outsource the delivery.
The training programmes were redesigned globally to ensure there was one common approach to leadership across the organisation. These programmes would then be rolled out to over 300 delegates across 15 countries.
Why Hemsley Fraser?
Avon sent a module from their internal training and asked six different training companies to deliver a section of it to a selection of managers across the business. Hemsley Fraser were judged the most professional in terms of their preparation and delivery, and in the trainer engagement of the audience.
The Solution Hemsley Fraser selected facilitators with both the right skill and the best ‘cultural fit’ with the client. Working closely with the key stakeholders at Avon we ensured we fully understood the changes and objectives that had resulted from the re-organisation and the managerial needs of the new programme.
The programme covered the following key areas:
- Expectations of a Leader
- Emotional Intelligence
- Communication and Listening
- Feedback
- Goal Setting
- Selection
- Motivation
- Delegation and Prioritisation
Hemsley Fraser drew upon its global network of deliverers to use multi-lingual trainers to ensure translation issues didn’t impact upon the learning. The faculty members from Hemsley Fraser held two ‘train the trainer’ sessions in both Poland and Portugal to ensure the trainers delivering the programmes were fully immersed in the ‘Avon Way’ and their culture and also to ensure the facilitators were comfortable with the materials and content.
The programme was successfully delivered to over 300 delegates across 15 countries and were very well received. Delegate comments included;
"Very good course. Trainer’s enthusiasm and knowledge reflected in the delivery of sessions throughout. Thought provoking, challenged comfort zone. Good opportunity to develop team working with others."
"Excellent course, very practical and relevant to Avon. I really like that it was very interactive, which helped my understanding and application of the material."
"The course far exceeded my expectations. Been on similar topic courses but really enjoyed the open communication and interaction between everyone. Made new alliances."
Client Feedback
We have been delighted with the Hemsley Fraser training delivery, and look to 2009 to continuing the partnership.
Future Development
Hemsley Fraser continues to deliver the Management Skills Leadership programmes across WEMEA.
In addition to this Hemsley Fraser also piloted and has now established a Finance for Non Finance Manager training course, co-facilitated with an Avon Finance Manager, which is proving popular across Western and Eastern Europe.
Other topics will be developed with Hemsley Fraser early in 2009.