Londonís retail employers to benefit from new centres of excellence

Demand from London retailers for job-ready candidates with the right business skills is increasingly being met by a growing network of retail centres of vocational excellence (CoVE) across the capital.

London has two new CoVEs, located in West London (where the winning application was led by Key Training with partners the College of North West London and Harrow College) and South London, (led by Hawk Training with partners Kingston College and Croydon College).

They join existing CoVEs at Heathrow Airport (a BAA-led initiative that represents both the retail and engineering sectors) and the London College of Communication, with whom they will share good practice in retail training for the industry.

ìCoVes are increasingly playing a vital role in the delivery of retail training that fulfils the needs of the sectorís employers,î says Alan Roberts, Chief Executive of Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for the retail industry.

ìThey are translating that employer need into learning - developing materials and course content that reflects the demands of retail business and provides job-ready candidates with the right skills. They are also helping us to promote retail as a career of choice.î

The total number of regional retail CoVEs in England now stands at 13, giving the country a near-complete network. Some areas, like London with its huge retail presence, have more than one.

Skillsmart Retail is now in discussion with key partners in the North East to explore how it might complete that network.

ìWith one in eight of the North Eastís working population currently employed in the retail sector, we believe the area would certainly benefit from having its own retail CoVE,î Mr Roberts says.

ìWeíre keen to ensure that retailís importance to the North East and national economy is recognised and that funding is made available to improve the provision of retail skills and training in the region.î