Morrisons has launched a major new apprenticeships programme targeted at helping young people into “lifelong” retail careers.
The Bradford supermarket will offer 1,000 young people apprenticeships in its stores, head office and across its manufacturing supply chain by 2030, as part of its new Proper Jobs: Fresh Start programme.
As the UK grapples with a crisis of unemployment among young people aged 18-24 not in employment, education or training (NEETs), Morrisons aims to highlight the benefit of a career in retail, by giving young people the chance to build long-term careers of their own.
It also hopes to promote and preserve the “traditional craft” food and drink skills that are crucial for its Market Street counters.
Apprentices will start their qualification by spending 13 weeks working in stores. They can then progress to a 12-month apprenticeship in a specialist area across Morrisons stores and supply chain. This includes the chance of training as a butcher, fishmonger, or baker at its in-store counters or in café hospitality, all of which face nationwide skills shortages, Morrisons said.
Morrisons wants to ensure apprentices have a “clear route into management” and all apprentices will be offered the chance to earn a place on its six-month leadership programme, the Ken Morrison Leadership School, once they have completed their apprenticeship.
It is the first time the supermarket is opening up its apprenticeship scheme to external candidates, The Grocer understands.
NEETs a major issue for the UK
In addition to around 300 apprentices each year, Morrisons will support an initial 100 young people into work through the government’s Youth Guarantee Scheme. This is targeted at people who have been receiving universal credit for an extended period, and who may require additional support when starting a job.
“There are more than a million young people across the UK who are not currently in education, employment or training,” said Jodie Keating, Morrisons group people director.
“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,” Keating said.
Projer Jobs: Fresh Start forms part of Morrisons’ ongoing work in partnership with IGD, the BRC and other food and drink businesses to tackle the employment challenge facing NEETs. It includes work experience and wider engagement programmes promoting the virtues of a career in the sector, which is one of the UK’s largest employers.
“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,” Keating said.
“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,” she added.
It comes as recently published accounts reveal Morrisons shed nearly 5,000 employees as part of its cost-cutting measures last year.
Headcount fell by nearly 5% from 101,144 to 96,232 during the year to 26 October 2025, as a result of the restructure of its Rathbones bakery site, the closure of its newspaper delivery service and the paring back of its in-store counters through 2025.
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