nickshanagher

On the one hand, the government wants small retailers to take on young people as apprentices, with details of a £1,500 support package due any time now from Skillsmart Retail. On the other, different retailers have different priorities. For a supermarket like Tesco, with 3,000 places on its in-house apprenticeship scheme, it is about developing its people and building team spirit in its stores. It's oldest apprentice is 67, says UK personnel director Judith Nelson. For a discounter like Aldi, it is a great way of attracting talented people to join its company with the promise of becoming managers in the future. "There are people who want a career in retail," says finance director Matthew Speight. For an independent c-store operator like Rav Garcha, it is a way to build the self-esteem of his team and to get his staff delivering on their mission to make "a difference locally". Unlike education that is designed to get a class of students to a median level, t...