Citation
(2011), "Tesco takes on more than 500 apprentices", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 43 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2011.03743daa.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Tesco takes on more than 500 apprentices
Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 43, Issue 4
UK supermarket Tesco has admitted 510 people to its new bakery or delicatessen apprenticeship scheme.
They will work towards a City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in retail skills for the vocational aspect of the program, and can also gain key skills for mathematics and English, which are delivered in-store by YMCA Training.
Tesco has also offered 225 positions on the bakery program, which is a City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate for proficiency in baking-industry skills. This is a specialised scheme developed and designed in partnership with Improve, the Sector Skills Council for Bakery.
There are 285 apprentices due to begin the delicatessen program, specialising in either meat and fish or deli. In addition to the specific skills needed to work in these areas, the qualification covers all technical, hygiene and customer-services aspects of the job.
Tesco apprenticeships were launched in 2004 with a group of 30 learners. Since then, the company has offered almost 4,000 apprenticeships, including 2,000 in 2010. Successful apprentices are encouraged to go on to further study on the Options development program, which is aimed at helping them to train to become team leaders.
The youngest apprentice at Tesco is 17 and the oldest is 67.
Hayley Tatum, Personnel Director, UK Stores, said: “The bakery and counter-skills apprenticeship offers people the opportunity to gain a recognized qualification in a specialist area. It is a great way for people to learn vocational and practical skills as well as to improve their English and mathematics and offers apprentices a chance to kick start their career progression at Tesco.”
In addition to launching these new schemes, Tesco will be offering 13 retail apprentices the opportunity to shadow senior executives at head office.