DIY giant hopes to improve showroom employees' knowledge and design skills to cash in on the 'don't move, improve' trend.
The training school is designed to give B&Q showroom employees better product, service and design skills across kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, carpets, flooring and showroom appliances.

The move aims to cash in on the growing trend of customers choosing to improve their homes rather than move, and is in line with the Kingfisher-owned company's £18m showroom expansion plan.

The showroom academy launches from September 28. It will see up to 4,000 members of staff, ages 16 to 82, across the chain's 300 UK and Irish stores, complete a City & Guilds approved, nationally recognised Home Improvement Knowledge qualification by the end of the year.

The academy, which represents a £2m investment, was put together by B&Q's HR team, with external input from its showroom supplier base.

B&Q HR director Liz Bell said: "Investing in qualifications for our store teams to give our customers the confidence that they are being advised by expert staff... is a priority. The launch of the showroom academy is the latest addition to a suite of qualifications and apprenticeship programmes that we have introduced this year."