At the start of National Apprenticeship Week, Starbucks can announce that the target to offer 1000 apprenticeships by the end of 2014 has been achieved. The Apprenticeship programme has been very successful in recruiting and retaining young talent for the business, with 21 graduated apprentices now running Starbucks stores.
The Starbucks Apprenticeship programme launched in the UK in Spring 2012, offering young people a start on the ladder of a retail management career and the opportunity to build the transferable skills needed to further their careers. Almost half of Starbucks partners are under the age of 24, an age group facing the most significant challenges around employment.
Lisa Robbins, director of partner resources for Starbucks UK said: “We are really proud of our apprenticeship programme, the first of its kind for Starbucks globally. With 21 graduated apprentices now store managers, and 57 shift supervisors, it has proved to us that apprenticeships for young people are a genuine alternative to academic study and a real path to a retail career. We are passionate about the true potential for apprenticeships and want to bust the myth that a vocational route is not as credible as pursuing higher education. We are delighted to reach our two year commitment, but we won’t be slowing down, we plan to offer up to 450 Level 2 and 80 Level 3 apprenticeships this year.”
Koey Huckerby, Starbucks Apprentice at Westfield said: “I thought I wanted to go to university after sixth form but it's very expensive. A friend of mine was doing an apprenticeship at Starbucks and so I looked into it. The prospect of working, gaining experience, and getting paid the same as other baristas while achieving a qualification really appealed to me. I applied at the notgoingtouni website and I haven’t looked back!”
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, running from 9th – 15th March 2015, Starbucks will be offering buy one, get one free on all handcrafted drinks for apprentices with NUS apprentice extra cards. Applications for Starbucks Apprenticeships can be made through www.notgoingtouni.com and https://apprenticeshipvacancymatchingservice.lsc.gov.uk
