Apprenticeship
This coverage explores apprenticeships within the UK retail sector, focusing on workforce development, training programmes, government initiatives, and employer-led schemes. Reporting examines how apprenticeships support skills growth, career progression, and operational needs, providing insights for retail executives, HR managers, and professionals committed to talent development and organisational resilience.
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Oct- 2025 -13 OctoberSupermarkets
M&S calls on gov to tackle youth unemployment
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has urged the government to work more closely with businesses to help reduce youth unemployment, whilst calling for National Insurance relief for employers who hire long-term unemployed or disadvantaged young people. M&S has also renewed calls for reform of the Apprenticeship Levy to allow companies greater…
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Sep- 2025 -17 SeptemberHigh Street
The Perfume Shop launches largest Christmas recruitment drive
The Perfume Shop will recruit more than 900 seasonal staff across the UK for Christmas 2025, in what it described as one of its biggest recruitment drives to date. The retailer said it would take on more Christmas sales assistants than in 2024 to meet increased customer demand. Last year,…
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Aug- 2025 -26 AugustSupermarkets
Aldi pledges £350k apprenticeship levy funding to Teenage Cancer Trust
Aldi has committed £350,000 of its apprenticeship levy to Teenage Cancer Trust, giving staff at the charity’s head office access to new training and qualifications. The funding will enable employees to develop skills relevant to their roles, supporting day-to-day work and providing opportunities to gain recognised industry qualifications. It is…
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4 AugustDepartment Stores
Debenhams launches AI academy for employees
Debenhams Group has launched an AI skills academy, a new programme aiming to provide its employees with practical AI skills. The academy is being rolled out in partnership with workforce development platform Multiverse. It will be fully funded through the group’s £1.35m apprenticeship levy, and provide employees with “structured, on-the-job…
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Jul- 2025 -29 JulySupermarkets
Co-op launches rail apprenticeships in prison to tackle skills gap and reoffending
Co-op and the City and Guilds Foundation have launched the UK’s first rail engineering apprenticeships in a prison, aiming to address skills shortages and reduce reoffending. The scheme, based at the Centre of Excellence skills hub at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk, will enable prisoners to complete Level 2 qualifications in…
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Jun- 2025 -9 JuneHigh Street
One in 10 part-time retail jobs at risk by 2028, warns BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that around 160,000, or more than one in 10, part-time retail roles are in danger of being lost over the next three years. The warning follows a new report published by the BRC which lays bare the threats to retail employment, which has…
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May- 2025 -1 MayNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-1/2/25
The Co-op has shut down parts of its IT systems after hackers attempted unauthorised access, causing minor disruptions to call centres and back-office operations. Stores, funeral homes, and quick commerce services remain unaffected. The company assured customers no action is required but is monitoring the situation. This follows a recent…
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1 MaySupermarkets
Aldi doubles apprenticeship funding for small businesses
Aldi has pledged £2m over the next two years to help small and medium-sized businesses fund a variety of industry apprenticeships. The commitment, which forms part of the apprenticeship levy gifting scheme Aldi launched in 2021, will take the amount of apprenticeship funding the supermarket has provided to small and…
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Apr- 2025 -3 AprilFeatures
Is going private the next big trend in retail?
Walgreens Boots Alliance was acquired by the American private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal valued at up to $23.7bn (£18.3 billion). Around the same time, Pepco Group, owner of Poundland, received interest from potential buyers for its 825-store Poundland business in the UK. With major retailers opting for…
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Mar- 2025 -5 MarchDIY
B&Q increases hourly pay to £12.71
B&Q has announced that it will be increasing its UK minimum hourly rate to £12.71 per hour, and its London rate to up to £14.05 per hour. The increase will be paid in full from 1st April and not staggered across the year meaning that from April 2025, over 15,000…
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