Unilever partners SLIM, launches programmes for sales force

Unilever Sri Lanka recently joined hands with the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) to launch two tailor-made programmes, Certificate in Sales Management and Diploma in Sales Management to nurture and develop the knowledge and capabilities of the Unilever sales force, thereby equipping them to embrace challenges and future-proof the business.

The programme hopes to upskill the company’s Sales and Merchandising Representatives and Promoter Cadre employees including beauty advisors, category assistants, supervisors and project managers, across all channels. The launch event was held at the SLIM Business School in Colombo, saw over 400 third-party Unilever employees being made eligible to follow the academic programmes, enabling them to further their career growth and progression. The event was held in the presence of Unilever and SLIM delegates, and was broadcasted live to all SLIM students. Unilever Sri Lanka Customer Development Director Bathiya Dayaratne said: “The launch of our two exclusive courses comes at a time when our economy is under severe stress, with companies looking to curtailing their investments on training and development. We, however, firmly believe that investing behind learning and capability is crucial to unleashing the dynamism and true potential of our people to lead and future-proof our organisation during these turbulent times.” President of SLIM Nuwan Gamage said: “A skilled sales force is an asset to an organisation, especially for a market leader. SLIM, being the national body for marketing on identifying the need to upskill the sales staff in organisations, introduce tailor-made programmes for this purpose. With the new programme inaugurated, SLIM will groom Unilever’s sales staff to think out of the box. Via a very practical oriented training schedule, they will be endowed with the knowledge and skills to better service the market, achieve greater heights in sales management and add value to the company’s growth and sustainability. As has been the practice this time around too, Unilever has partnered with the right mentoring entity that is SLIM, to fulfill its objectives.”