We caught up with Senior Trainer and co-director of The London Reception Academy, Sun Moritz to find out about The LRA and of the challenges she faces being behind London’s premier academy for corporate receptionist training.
What is The LRA all about?
The LRA offers companies to send their receptionists, or for anyone in customer facing role, for corporate reception training. We work closely HR Managers, Training Managers and Company Directors who are looking for their receptionists to have professional training to gain more business acumen and awareness for their company’s front of house reception requirements. The LRA is about setting standards and ensuring that receptionists everywhere are polished to the highest standards attainable.
What was the inspiration behind The LRA?
It has been a very organic process. We were happily running Miss Reception, a training company specifically open to the public, when we started to receive more and more calls enquiring about corporate receptionist training. This has been quite remarkable considering our expansion into The LRA was not due for another 18 months.
Is there anything different that THE LRA offer in terms of distinction?
Yes, The LRA is unique in the sense of its mission and of how the training is administered. There is the Standard 3 Day Professional Course or the option of bespoke modular training for companies who feel their receptionists only require certain areas of development. Our academy is instructor led and we also offer in-house training for companies who are looking to train several staff
What can companies expect from The LRA?
The LRA offers companies high standards of reception training by expert trainers who also possess the wealth of experience in the reception environment. Companies have seen some dramatic changes in their receptionists who have returned to work with a sense of pride, a renewed self-belief but more importantly a corporate identity for themselves.
Is there anything else that The LRA offer in terms of a USP?
Yes. We have mystery shoppers who go into companies and literally sit in reception and watch how the reception service is conducted. This information is then fed back to clients and then the training commences. There are also telephone mystery shoppers to assist companies to keep abreast of how their phones are answered as well as providing them with the fundamental feedback of first impressions, the use of corporate language and the overall professionalism.
How beneficial is this?
Hugely! This exercise is not meant to make anyone feel inadequate or de-motivated, far from it. In fact, the receptionist never knows. Instead it is used in a positive way to ensure that the trainer is able to carry out the training and focus on the points that require addressing. This could be anything from deportment and courtesy to elocution and response times.
What does the next 12 months have in store?
The LRA has a steady growth of trainers and for now it is simply to do what we do and to be the best at it. We re-define our goals all the time and make sure that we maintain the same humbleness and commitment to changing lives when we are growing at a steady pace and word of mouth is working beautifully in terms of referrals and brand recognition.
Are there any other ambitions for The LRA?
Yes, definitely! Naturally, we wish to continue the growth and expansion of The LRA. We are constantly changing and evolving as a quality training provider. We are exceeding our own expectations and those of our clients.
