Inducting sellers
Some types of work require specific training before the seller is eligible. Your Slivers-of-Time marketplace can get this induction done in a new, more efficient, way.
Some suggestions that might help:
1) Clearance of sellers
The most common form of assurance about a seller you'll probably be asked for is a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. This specifies that they don't have any outstanding convictions that would prevent them doing particular kinds of work.
A full CRB check has traditionally been costly and time consuming. However, there is a low cost, fast-track, version available called Povafirst.
2) Specific inductions
Some employers require a pool of sellers who have been trained in how to carry out certain tasks. An example of this from existing operations is the market research project carried out by CIPs in East London. (It was research into Slivers-of-Time Working commissioned under independent supervision by Middlesex University.) The task was to train around 50 sellers in how to carry out a particular research interview and capture the results as they did so.
The steps they took were:
- Set up two afternoon (2 hours) training sessions in a room in a local college.
- Book around 75 sellers who were available to attend one of the two afternoon sessions. The sellers were paid for this like any other two hour booking.
- Prepare slides and handout notes.
- Conduct the two identical training sessions around: (a) brief introduction to the task (b) priorities and ethical behaviour required (c) take questions (d) roleplay interviewing each other and capturing the results (e) questions (f) final assessment of forms.
- Some of the sellers were felt not to have reached the standard required, they still had the benefit of a two hour booking that day. The 55 others were allocated a place in the pool of rated sellers who were permitted to do the interviews. (The way these pools are run in the marketplace is explained in the How it works section.)
- As interviewers were needed they were booked from the pool of 55 inducted sellers. Many of these sellers have gone on to do other market research interviews for other employers locally.
This was a cost effective alternative to the much more limiting option of contracting two researchers for the 3 months it would otherwise have taken to complete the project. It is worth looking at opportunities for bulk inductions (which may be unpaid if your sellers are willing) that qualify your sellers for specific types of work where there is an ongoing local need.
3) General inductions
Some types of work requiring a basic certificate are particularly suitable for Slivers-of-Time Workers. Again, inducting a group of sellers at once can be very efficient. One example is the Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene which is valued for entry level workers in the catering industry.
A class of sellers could be assembled, taught the fundamentals, sit an exam and receive a certificate all within a day. The primary cost, if sellers are not paid, is the trainer and possibly a room hire. It is possible a local food service company will help with these costs if convinced the Slivers-of-Time Workers resulting will help them cope with unexpected peaks in demand.
