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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

Tesco celebrates success of apprenticeship scheme

Tesco and over 200 apprentices enrolled on its Property Apprentice Trainee Scheme celebrated completing their first year of training this week, which culminated in a two day training and development course at the National Construction College’s East Campus in Norfolk

Tesco and over 200 apprentices enrolled on its Property Apprentice Trainee Scheme celebrated completing their first year of training this week, which culminated in a two day training and development course at the National Construction College’s East Campus in Norfolk.
 
As the UK’s largest retailer and one of the country’s biggest property developers, Tesco relies on the skills of a wide selection of vocational workers from electricians to quantity surveyors. In 2010 it set up the Tesco Property Apprentice and Trainee Scheme. The initiative is aimed at those hoping to pursue a career in property and construction and provides opportunities for young people to learn a trade, develop essential skills and provide leaders for the future.
 
Partnering with 48 construction suppliers, Tesco sponsors over 200 trainees and apprentices by contributing 50% of the apprentices’ training and salary costs and during the scheme, with the other half of the funding provided by The National Apprenticeship Service or the supplier employer. Courses range from one to four years in length.
 
The apprentices spend four days a year with Tesco as part of their ongoing development. For the final instalment of this year’s training, Tesco worked in conjunction with the National Construction College – Europe’s largest construction training provider – to develop a bespoke two day training course at the College’s 450 acre site at Bircham Newton, Norfolk. The development days required apprentices to undertake both practical and theoretical activities, with sessions orientated to providing apprentices and trainees with skills that can be applied to the development or refurbishment of a Tesco store.
 
A wide range of team building challenges were set with Tesco-led core skill training on a range of topics including store design, interior systems in retail, underground services,  operating mobile work platforms and mini excavators, health and safety behavioural practices and finally waste management systems and carbon reduction to help Tesco become a zero carbon retailer by 2050.
 
Trainees and apprentices were then given an opportunity to celebrate their success at an evening BBQ, which involved teambuilding activities, and a certificate giving ceremony at the end of the two days.
 
Michelle Collins from Tesco said: “We’re delighted with the success of the apprentice scheme. We set it up to provide opportunities for young people to learn a trade, develop skills and provide leaders for the future. We can’t live and work in a community without putting something into it, particularly at a time when youth unemployment is at record levels.
 
“For Tesco our investment goes back into the business because we work with supplier teams that know us very well and the apprentice training helps them to provide an enhanced service to us. By offering young people a chance to make a career that we can also eventually benefit from, then that’s one of the best contributions that we can make.”
 
Trainee apprentice, Kristian Walker, said: “The Tesco Property Apprentice and Trainee Scheme has given me a fantastic opportunity to work within an exciting industry, and gain the knowledge and experience to hopefully have a long and successful career. By being on this scheme, I am constantly learning new skills and techniques that will help me later on in my career as I progress through my company.”
 
Apprentice Ben Cohen added: “The Tesco Property Apprentice Scheme is a different type of apprenticeship because you have an employer but you are also employed by Tesco. This enables you to get a broader range of experience working with different companies and people. I’ve had the chance to work with architects, electricians, project managers and senior managers from Tesco Property.”
 
The National Construction College (NCC) is the training arm of CITB-ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, and has been designing and delivering training for nearly 50 years. The NCC has the experience and expertise required to deliver a whole range of vocational and theoretical training which can be adapted to meet the needs of companies to assist people into the sector or to enhance and sustain employment.