A foundation degree in supermarket operations has been announced by Morrisons and the Logistics Institute at Hull University Business School.
100 Morrisons staff will obtain skills and knowledge in leadership and logistics in order to enhance their business’ competitive advantage. The bespoke, part-time industry foundation degree has been formulated by the Logistics Institute alongside the University of Hull’s dedicated Knowledge Exchange team and in close consultation with the major supermarket chain. It will provide cutting-edge training to the Morrisons’ logistics division.
The initiative will have an immediate impact on Morrisons supply chain enabling them to meet customer demands and move food around the country more efficiently in the run up to the busy Christmas period, as well as enhancing their operations in the long-term.
The partnership comes at a time when retail logistics, the backbone of any retail operation, are becoming increasingly sophisticated with a subsequent need for higher qualified personnel.
The course has been specifically created for Morrisons as an investment in their people and the future growth of the business. Following an internal recruitment process, the accredited course will largely be attended by supervisors who wish to progress to become managers – employees will complete the course with a recognised certificate and the opportunity to develop further.
The aim of this specially designed programme is to closely connect theoretical learning with the workplace environment. As part of the programme, students will tackle three business improvement projects – two from within the organisation. They will present their findings to their management team and implement positive changes within their working life.
Nathan Clements, HR director for manufacturing and logistics at Morrisons, said: “Efficiently moving food to our stores and customers – come rain or shine or even snow – is one of the most vital parts of any supermarket business. This degree programme will ensure that we can develop the best managers for the weekly challenge of managing a supply chain that serves 11.5 million customers every week.”
