The trade association representing local shops, and one of Britain’s biggest charities supporting young people have teamed up to offer apprenticeships in the convenience store sector. ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) which represents the UK’s 50,000 convenience stores employing 390,000 people, is working with Centrepoint to give these businesses easy access to the system of apprenticeships which is at the heart of the government’s skills strategy.
Centrepoint will work with ACS and its members to:
- answer questions about employing and training apprentices,
- deliver apprenticeships through their network of trainers,
- find colleges and other training providers to deliver apprenticeships if Centrepoint does not cover their area, and
- help retailers to access funding for apprenticeships.
The partnership is being launched alongside the unveiling of ACS’ Local Shop Report in Manchester today (7 September).
ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Retailers have told us they need clear advice on how to access apprenticeships in line with the specific needs of their businesses. Centrepoint can support members at every stage of the process, from looking at the contribution apprentices can make to their business, to finding the right people, delivering the training, and access to government funding.
“Both ACS and Centrepoint are not-for-profit organisations, and this partnership is built around the sole purpose of helping retailers and the people who work in them to benefit from apprenticeships.”
Michelle Bellamy, Operations Director at Centrepoint said: “Apprenticeships present a fantastic opportunity for businesses to attract fresh talent and provide a cost effective means to invest in the skills of the workforce. Centrepoint is able to call on nearly five decades of experience of working with young people, to ensure our apprenticeship programmes are tailored to the needs of and ethos of each business we work with, to produce a skilled and productive workforce.”
For more details on apprenticeships, retailers should contact Centrepoint on 0191 510 9762 or [email protected] or ACS at [email protected]
