STAFF training is getting even better at GAME, the video games chain which relocated its European headquarters to Basingstoke this year.

This summer, the company launched a new training scheme in more than 80 of its stores as it introduced NVQ programmes for the first time.

Dubbed the "Academy of Excellence" by the firm, the NVQ programme is being promoted within the company as "Working Together, Achieving Together".

The NVQ complements GAME's existing in-house training scheme of "Excellence in Practice", which everyone has to pass to become a member of staff.

The three NVQ programmes currently on offer are in retail, customer services and team leading, and will be followed by business administration, distribution and warehousing and call handling.

The scheme has so far been rolled out to some 600 staff and will be available in all GAME's 380-plus stores in the UK by the end of this year.

Each member of staff will be assigned their own learning and development manager to support them in the training and work schedules.

Malcolm Knight, head of training and development, said: "Through offering this great training opportunity to our staff, we're able to put into practice our commitment to investing in all our staff and giving them the choice over which qualifications they wish to work towards."

He added: "Our staff will be able to learn a lot from NVQ courses and it will benefit them, whether they work in our stores, the distribution centres or even in head office.

"But our ultimate aim is that this will translate into an even better experience for the customers of GAME."