Morrisons rolls out 'UK's largest training scheme' |
Michael Barker, thegrocer.co.uk 23 October 2009 In: Retailers, Industry news
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Morrisons has rolled out a massive training project under which 20,000 staff will study for a qualification in retail skills.
The initiative, described as the largest training programme of its kind in the country, will see staff trained to QCF – formerly known as NVQ - Level 2 standard. Training will begin in January and be completed by the spring.
A six-store pilot of the project was completed this week, with 400 staff receiving certificates from Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "Morrisons is changing the whole culture of this industry so that everybody who starts at the company will have chance of promotion and a qualification, and everybody who starts at Morrisons will see the prospects that lie ahead for them," the Prime Minister said. "Morrisons is therefore leading the way in the whole of the retail trade throughout the country."
The training programme is part of Morrisons' 'Fresh Food Academy', which has set out the ambitious target of training 100,000 employees by 2011. The supermarket also confirmed this week that tailored retail skills training would be provided for every staff member in every store from early 2010.
"Investing in skills gives people the chance to grow with the business and provides great service to our customers," said the supermarket's chief executive Marc Bolland. "We give everyone the opportunity of developing from the shop floor to the top floor. Investing in people builds the leaders of the future and sustainable performance."