First4Skills and Waitrose launch UK wide Apprenticeship scheme
 
In order to support the skills agenda and champion youth employment, leading grocer Waitrose has announced that they will offer up to 200 Apprenticeships across the business over the next 12 months.

The roll out of the scheme with national training provider First4Skills follows a successful trial over the past year, during which 13 of its stores have been running a number of Apprenticeship programmes.

The Waitrose Retail Apprenticeship Scheme has already seen some very positive results and thanks to each apprentice being allocated their own workplace ‘Buddy’, current apprentices are on track to achieve their qualification in the next 12 months.
 
As a result, Waitrose are delighted that they will offer up to 3 Apprenticeships from the day all new large stores open, while smaller convenience stores will each support 1 apprentice.

The Retail Apprenticeship Scheme is designed to give young people first-hand experience of working in a store environment whilst simultaneously working towards a nationally recognised Retail qualification.