More than a fifth of all Asda store colleagues are aged 25 or under – more than double the UK average. This gives us invaluable insight into how businesses can help young people build lasting careers.
Apprenticeships play a vital role in shaping careers after school and college, so it’s worrying to read reports that the UK government is planning to make it even harder for retailers to offer apprenticeship opportunities.
We believe defunding leadership apprenticeships would be a clear step backwards, cutting off proven progression routes. They are crucial to our business.
Home-grown talent
We understand what it takes to help young people get into work, and we’re proud of our track record in helping them grow and progress through apprenticeships.
Leadership apprenticeships are a vital part of how we grow our own talent. They give colleagues structured development, recognised qualifications and a clear route from entry‑level roles into management and professional careers.
Because many of our stores serve some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities, we see first‑hand how powerful apprenticeships can be in boosting social mobility. More than 20% of all our apprentices at present are on leadership programmes, moving from the shop floor into management and even roles at our head offices.
That’s why reports suggesting the government may make it harder for retailers to offer these programmes are so worrying. It would be a backwards step and a barrier that would prevent young people from building long‑term careers in retail.
Defunding would be a mistake
We’re very disappointed by reports that the government may make it harder for retailers to offer leadership apprenticeships. Removing programmes that clearly work for businesses and employees would, in our view, be a huge mistake. Simplifying the system is a good aim. But it shouldn’t mean scrapping successful routes that help people build real and lasting careers.
Yes, we will still have a Level 2 entry-level programme, but because of the difficulties retailers have faced (for several years) when spending their levy, there will be nothing further other than apprenticeship units to support us with leadership development.
These proposed changes would leave us with little in terms of viable development pathways through apprenticeships in retail.
For years we have been telling successive UK governments that the apprenticeship levy doesn’t work for retail. We had hoped the Growth and Skills Levy would be the answer – but the changes being proposed would make things harder, not easier.
Of course we appreciate the flexibilities being brought in. But these should be in addition to a full suite of apprenticeship programmes that have been shown to meet the needs of our colleagues and protect their development pathways into becoming the next generation of retail leaders.
James Goodman is chief people officer at Asda
No comments yet