Morrisons has announced a new fully-funded apprenticeship qualification and leadership training programme designed to give young people the opportunity to build long-term careers in retail management and leadership. The initiative supports the Government’s agenda to reduce unemployment among 18-24 year olds, commonly referred to as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Applications open in September.
Programme details and structure
The Proper Jobs: Fresh Start Programme will combine practical, on-the-job experience with skills and leadership training over two years. Participants will begin by spending 13 weeks working in a proper job as a Morrisons store colleague and can then progress to a 12-month apprenticeship in their chosen specialist area of retail, including as a skilled Butcher, Fishmonger or Baker, or as a hospitality cafe colleague.
On completing their apprenticeship and end-point assessment, Fresh Start colleagues will have the opportunity to progress to a place on a six-month programme at the Sir Ken Morrison Leadership School. The programme aims to develop essential retailing experience like teamwork, communication, hospitality and customer service, while preserving traditional craft skills such as butchery, bakery and fishmongery that are increasingly at risk of dying out.
Addressing skills shortages
By training recruits directly alongside experienced craft colleagues, Morrisons is actively tackling nationwide skills shortages in these specialist trades. As the largest provider of craft apprenticeships in the UK, this hands-on training ensures these heritage culinary arts are passed on to a new generation, keeping specialised, skilled craft at the heart of its fresh Market Street counter service.
Morrisons is working collaboratively with IGD, the British Retail Consortium and other businesses across the retail and grocery industry to drive further change in supporting the next generation. This includes providing work experience, engaging with schools and initiatives to help more young people move into employment.
Industry-wide collaboration
Jodie Keating, Group People Director at Morrisons, said: “There are more than a million young people across the UK who are not currently in education, employment or training. This is a major issue for the country and one which businesses across our industry need to work together to address.
“At Morrisons, we want to play our part by providing proper jobs that give young people the opportunity to earn, learn and build lasting careers. Our Proper Jobs: Fresh Start Programme will combine real, hands-on experience with a fully funded qualification, for example in craft skills as Butchers, Bakers and Fishmongers.
“It will also provide a clear route into leadership for a new generation of Morrisons colleagues whether they want to run a store, manage a logistics depot, lead a team at one of our Myton manufacturing sites or progress into a central business role. This initiative is part of Morrisons ongoing commitment to building skills, talent and supporting the next generation of leaders in our business.
“We are working in partnership with the IGD, British Retail Consortium and other businesses across the retail industry on the NEET challenge, as no one organisation can fix this alone.”
The programme is set to open for applications in September, with the first cohort expected to begin their training shortly after. Morrisons has not yet confirmed the total number of apprenticeships available, but the announcement signals a significant investment in youth employment and skills development across the retail sector.
