Tesco today announced the launch of a new training scheme for school leavers – offering an ‘earn while you learn’ alternative to the mainstream education system.
The comprehensive development scheme, being introduced in March with the first group of 60 young people across the country, offers a fast-track management scheme with potential to progress to Store Manager level by the age of 23 – on a then expected salary of £50,000-plus
During the two-year scheme, recruits will gain three A-level equivalents by completing an NVQ level 3 and Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. In addition, the syllabus develops employees’ wider skill base, with specific focus on team building and leadership skills.
After successfully completing the two-year course, recruits will automatically enrol onto the wider Tesco trainee management scheme to continue their development programme.
David Potts, retail director at Tesco said: “Mainstream education is not for everyone. We want to show that there is another way for young people to progress into well paid jobs with prospects, which is why we have developed this alternative programme.
“The school leaver course is a great option for those who would prefer to learn on the job and delivers not only on academic grounds, but also provides young people with a skill set that is directly relevant to the workplace.”
The school leaver course is just one of many training and development initiatives that have been devised by Tesco to help offer alternative educational programmes and job opportunities to younger people. Indeed, 29% of new positions created at Tesco last year were filled by 16 – 24 year olds.
Some of the training schemes offered at Tesco for younger people include:
Apprenticeships: 865 Tesco apprentices complete their qualifications this February and Tesco is committed to more than doubling its apprenticeship intake this year, opening 2,000 schemes to both new and existing staff.
Trainee management scheme: Open to internal and external recruits, this scheme offers an alternative to university for A-Level school leavers. The 12-month programme fast-tracks recruits to line manager level within six months, with a six- month shadowing period to help them settle into the role.
Retail foundation degree: A two-year full-time degree level qualification, this is awarded by Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of the Arts, London and is fully funded by Tesco. Employees are supported with paid study leave and tutorial time to complete the qualification.
Options programme: An internal tailor-made training programme which develops employees at every level of the business with leadership and general operating skills. Tesco aims to have one in every 10 of its 280,000 UK employees enrolled on an Options course at any one time and courses last between six months and two years.
Graduate recruitment: Having expanded the range of graduate recruitment schemes from 15 to 17 in 2009, Tesco currently hires 152 graduates per year in a range of occupations from legal and property to finance, dotcom and Tesco Mobile.
Potts said: “Training is key at Tesco and developing our leaders of the future is a fundamental part of our success.
“Although graduates are a vital source of our future leaders, we know there is a great talent pool of younger workers who can progress within Tesco from pre-university entry points too.
“These schemes help us to ensure that we are training our colleagues at every level of the business and helping them get on.”
