NEW DIRECT SALES QUALIFICATION LAUNCHED

The Direct Selling Association has launched DSA Qualifications for professional direct sellers

Aiming to recognise and develop the skills needed to become a successful direct seller, DSA Qualifications will award a formal qualification in ‘Running a Direct Selling Business’. The Ofqual recognised award comprises four units and will provide students with a grounding in how to set up a business, how to find customers, developing teams and how to deal with financial and tax issues.

“There are a number of skills integral to running a successful direct selling business and the new DSA qualification will, for the first time, formally recognise these skills and help direct sellers to best develop and grow their businesses,” says Paul Southworth, director general of the DSA.

“The DSA qualification will provide direct sellers with invaluable skills for running their own business, as well as key transferable skills they can pass on to their teams. In addition, the formal qualification will provide direct sellers with increased credibility and confidence when it comes to doing business.”

DSA Qualifications has been formally launched following a successful trial with a number of the UK’s leading direct selling companies, including Forever Living Products, Kleeneze, Avon, The Pampered Chef and Amway. The course, which is open to any direct seller in the UK, is undertaken remotely via distance learning, costs £120 for each unit (or £432 for all four units) and takes a minimum of six months to complete.

The Direct Selling Association is the trade body for the UK direct selling industry, responsible for promoting the sector and regulating member companies. All DSA member companies sign its code of conduct, an independently administered set of guidelines that are approved by the Office of Fair Trading. The code ensures that direct sellers and customers can be safe in the knowledge that any member company will uphold the integrity of the industry.

For more information visit www.dsaqualifications.com.