Retail Ireland’s has launched its apprenticeship in retail supervision, 'to help retailers suffering from high staff turnover'.
Speaking with the Thomas Burke told the that it is to help retailers suffering from high staff turnover.
The new apprenticeship is aimed at those working as supervisors in any retail industry, and is designed to help them upskill and gain a professional qualification.
Speaking with the Irish Times Thomas Burke stated: “Retailing has always suffered from a higher staff turnover than most other sectors, with the greatest rate of attrition among those in frontline roles."
He explained that there has been a reluctance by many to invest in people who are “just passing through”.
Long-Term Career Option
He added that this has led to a self-created problem as the industry now does not appeal as a long-term career option.
“The retail industry has not been good at creating career progression pathways for people and it has paid the price in terms of the loss of experience and the time and money associated with rehiring,” Burke continued.
He said the apprenticeship, which aims to solve this problem, is “basically an entry-level management course”.
“The apprenticeship is a two-year, part-time course and it is a big step forward for the sector,” he explained.
“Those who complete the apprenticeship successfully can then skip the first year of the retail management degree course and, within four years, can have an apprenticeship, a degree and a lot of experience under their belt.”
Burke said that there has been a strong interest in the scheme, from employers both big and small, and the first intake will be of 120 people.
Much of the course has been made available online, so that staff will be able to minimise travel and time away from work.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
