Developing people through the V Experience

To keep growing its people, VHA launched its first work experience program in October providing seven existing retail employees with the opportunity to taste life working in another area of the business.

Dubbed the V Experience, the inaugural program was originally going to create five work placements at VHA head office in Sydney but after receiving 80 quality applications from around the country VHA decided to offer seven placements across Marketing, HR, Finance and Customer Experience.

The successful candidates spent from Monday, October 25 to Friday October 29 at “The Ark” – the nickname for VHA HQ – with interstate participants flown in for the occasion and provided with accommodation courtesy of VHA. One of the seven work experience staff members landed a full time job making the people development project an even bigger success than expected.

“We could not have been more pleased with the outcome of V Experience,” said VHA’s Head of Recruitment Kirsten Lohr. “The feedback we’ve received from both Retail and Office staff has been overwhelmingly positive.”

“How often does a Retail Store Associate get to have lunch with the Director of Sales? The participants got a close look at what the office environment is like, what goes on in meetings, and exposure to decisions that are made about our stores and our customers.”

“All around, it was a great week and we are looking forward to next year, as we plan to expand the program to twice its size.”

The 2010 program was open to all retail staff from casuals to store managers. Applicants could choose from a V Experience in HR, marketing, retail, finance or communications and corporate affairs.

The selection process asked applicants to fill out a form and explain why they were a perfect fit for the V Experience.

The program will be repeated again next year and those applicants who were unsuccessful this year can reapply.