Morrisons has announced plans to take on 1,000 apprentices by 2030 as part of a new programme developed in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Proper Jobs: Fresh Start Programme will begin in September and offer paid positions across the supermarket’s stores, head office and manufacturing sites.
The two-year scheme is designed to address the DWP’s NEET crisis, which refers to young people not in education, employment or training. Participants will spend the first 13 weeks working as a Morrisons store colleague in a paid role, before progressing to a 12-month apprenticeship in a specialist retail area of their choice.
What the Proper Jobs: Fresh Start Programme offers
According to Morrisons, the programme combines practical, on-the-job experience with skills and leadership training over the full two-year period. Apprentices will earn while they learn, with the opportunity to gain a fully funded qualification in areas such as craft skills including butchery, baking and fishmongering.
The supermarket, which has branches in Birmingham, said the scheme also provides a clear route into leadership roles. Successful apprentices could progress to run a store, manage a logistics depot, lead a team at one of the company’s Myton manufacturing sites, or move into a central business role.
Addressing the NEET challenge
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.”
Keating added: “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.”
Industry-wide collaboration
Morrisons is working in partnership with the IGD, the British Retail Consortium and other businesses across the retail industry on the NEET challenge. Keating noted: “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 initiative forms part of Morrisons’ ongoing commitment to building skills, talent and supporting the next generation of leaders in the business. The first cohort of apprentices will begin the programme in September, with the goal of reaching 1,000 apprenticeships by 2030.
