29 April 2009: The largest network of retail training centres in the UK will be unveiled today, with the nationwide launch of the National Skills Academy for Retail.
Lord Young, Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, will join Theo Paphitis of Dragons’ Den, Mary ‘Queen of Shops’ Portas, Charlie Mayfield Chairman of John Lewis Partnership and Ian Cheshire CEO of Kingfisher Plc in London this evening to celebrate the launch of this exciting initiative.
It has been a turbulent year for the economy but the UK retail workforce continues to grow and is forecast to increase by six per cent between 2007 and 2017; 214,000 jobs will be created as a result of expansion and 1.2 million jobs will need to be filled as a result of people leaving the sector.
Lord Young said:
“It is great to be opening the new National Skills Academy for Retail. Increasing skills in retail is vital to both the sector and the whole nation and I believe the National Skills Academy for Retail will set the benchmark for top-quality training across the country.
“Now is not the time to stop investing in skills. We know that employers who invest in skills now will be best placed to take advantage of the upturn when it comes.”
Theo Paphitis, Chairman of Ryman Stationery and star of Dragons’ Den said:
“I consider it an honour to be invited to talk at the launch of the National Skills Academy for Retail as Ryman employees are amongst the most experienced and best trained in the high street.
“We are in the process of adjusting our very intensive ‘on the job’ training programme to be in line with the Skillsmart Retail Apprentice’s scheme. The National Skills Academy for Retail’s accredited skills shops will be able to help both employees and employers find the right training, whether it is an Apprenticeship scheme, retail customer service programme or work experience opportunity.”
The National Skills Academy for Retail is one of 16 skills academies in the National Skills Academy Network. All skills academies are employer-led, enabling them to develop targeted and relevant training for better skills that help industries grow.
Jane Rexworthy, Head of the National Skills Academy for Retail, said:
“Not only will the National Skills Academy for Retail bring a step change in retail skills levels nationally, but every part of the country will create its own pool of work-ready, retail recruits who will easily slot into any retail business.”
With £7 million of private sector investment, the Skills Academy for Retail will support people through learning over the first five years, offering high quality skills training to retailers and their employees throughout the UK.
The National Skills Academy for Retail is being backed by a number of well-known retailers including John Lewis Partnership, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Grosvenor and the British Council of Shopping Centres.
The skills academy will oversee the network of walk-in and web based retail skills shops on high streets and in shopping centres across the UK. It will be run by local stakeholders including developers, training providers, retailers, and Jobcentre Plus.
All the retail skills shops will become part of a network providing access to world-class skills and business support for retailers, employees and the future workforce, and will deliver a range of services to drive up the skills levels of everyone within the retail sector – including pre-employment training, Apprenticeships, retail customer service programmes and retail work experience opportunities.
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