Retailers across the West Midlands are being offered the chance to boost their businesses with a new course designed by BBC Two’s “Mary Queen of Shops”.

Mary Portas, star of the TV show which helps turn around failing boutiques, has developed the Guide to Successful Retailing course in conjunction with the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Retail.

It is made up of seven one-day masterclasses covering everything from finance and business planning to service and selling skills.

The college will be running each class through its one-stop shop for retail training, the Greater Birmingham Skills Shop (GBSS), which it launched in 2009 to deliver industry-specific training to those working in the sector.

Linzi Johnston, head of retail at Solihull College, said: “We’re delighted that we are able to support the region’s retailers by offering the invaluable expertise of Mary Portas, someone with extensive experience and knowledge of the ever expanding world of retail.

“Through the delivery of this programme, as well as the many other GBSS services, we aim to help breathe life back into the region’s high streets and help boost the many small businesses who occupy them.”

* A free taster session will be taking place at Solihull College on October 19 from 6pm for people to find out more about the GBSS and Mary Portas’s master classes. Registration for a place on the session can be made by contacting Rebecca Wilkes on 0121 678 7181 or at gbss@solihull.ac.uk

www.solihull.ac.uk