rt 2012 lr[2]

Starting out in retailRetailers that worked their way up the career ladder

The ‘workfare’ debateHow the work experience controversy affected retail

It’s a family affairWhy family run businesses stand out from the crowd

Promoting skills development in retailIssue10 2012

The rise of retail The retail sector shines as it joins the professional ranks

In association with

Jobs you want from the name you trust. Visit the new RetailWeekjobs.com today.

A new range of retail jobs to fi t your career

The new RetailWeekjobs.com, the fastest way to fi nd and apply for your next retail job.

• More jobs than ever before –All levels, from sales assistants to senior directors

• Get the best jobs fi rst –Set up email alerts instantly and get the roles you want direct to your inbox

• Simple application process –Apply for jobs in seconds

• Go mobile –

Not at a computer? Visit m.retailweekjobs.com. Fully optimised, giving you the fastest way to fi nd a job on the go

RW_jobs_Full_Page.indd 1 15/08/2011 10:35

Contents

Editor Joanna PerryWriters Gemma Goldfi ngle, Liz MorrellProduction Editor Tracey GardnerDesign forty6 design LtdPublisher Tracey Davies

For NSA for RetailDirector of Marketing and Communications Kerry [email protected] +44 (0)7795 962 447

© Retail WeekAll material is strictly copyright and all rights were reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of Retail Week is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at the time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for omissions or errors. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Retail Week or Skillsmart Retail.

Retail Therapy is printed by Headley Brothers Ltd. Ashford, Kent

4 LandscapeInternational retailers fl ock

to the UK; how independents

can benefi t from the Retail

Apprenticeship Scheme; part-time

work boosts retail employment;

and we report on the latest

Independents’ Day

14 DebateWhile the controversy

over work experience

schemes has died down,

Retail Therapy discovers

the effect it has had

on retailers and

jobseekers

20 In-depthThe retail

sector is often

associated

with low

skilled and

low paid

work so

professionalising

it is crucial to the

industry’s future

success

25 People: InterviewB&Q’s Joanna Robb explains

how she is making her way up the

multichannel retail career ladder

27 People: First jobsSix high-profi le retailers share their

experiences of how much they have

achieved since their fi rst job in the

retail industry

30 Real life: Meet the TeamPets at Home has opened

a new fl agship store in Fort

Kinnaird in Edinburgh,

where each employee

has specialist skills

32 People: Family retailersWe fi nd out how

some of the UK’s

family-run retailers

differentiate

themselves from

their competitors

34 DiaryDates for your

calendar

Jane Rexworthy, head of the National Skills Academy for Retail

Welcome to the National Skills Academy for

Retail’s magazine, Retail Therapy. With a

network of more than 50 skills shops across the

UK, the NSA for Retail has a truly nationwide

offer. We have come a long way since we

launched in April 2009 with just 18 skills shops.

The services the skills shops have to offer, from careers

advice and guidance, to bespoke training courses and

qualifi cations, are more and more in demand.

While recent reports have shown that the number of roles

in retail has grown in 2012, the high staff turnover (about

40%) that has previously characterised the sector has

dropped to 17.5% as people stay put in their roles. Fewer

vacancies mean that ensuring your skills are the best they

can be is ever more important in today’s retail jobs market.

Candidates need to make themselves more attractive

to employers through gaining additional skills and

qualifi cations. The NSA for Retail’s network of skills shops

can advise those working or looking to work in retail and

offers a range of training courses, from pre-employment

training and Apprenticeships to customer service.

People are also considering setting up their own business

and we examine some successful, family-run, independent

retailers in this issue. The NSA for Retail also provides

support for such entrepreneurs, with business courses in

fi nance and business planning, marketing, buying and visual

merchandising as well as support from experienced mentors.

In this issue we also look at how both businesses and

individuals have benefi ted from the many services the

network has to offer, as well as how some of retail’s high

fl iers have carved out their paths to the top of a profession

in which everyone has a real chance to shine.

Foreword

Contents

Issue 10 2012

3www.nsaforretail.com

Retail Therapy discovers Retail Therapy discovers Retail Therapy

on retailers and

jobseekers

sector is often

associated

with low

skilled and

low paid

work so

professionalising

industry’s future

retail industry

where each employee

some of the UK’s

differentiate

themselves from

their competitors

calendar

Jobs you want from the name you trust. Visit the new RetailWeekjobs.com today.

A new range of retail jobs to fi t your career

The new RetailWeekjobs.com, the fastest way to fi nd and apply for your next retail job.

• More jobs than ever before –All levels, from sales assistants to senior directors

• Get the best jobs fi rst –Set up email alerts instantly and get the roles you want direct to your inbox

• Simple application process –Apply for jobs in seconds

• Go mobile –

Not at a computer? Visit m.retailweekjobs.com. Fully optimised, giving you the fastest way to fi nd a job on the go

RW_jobs_Full_Page.indd 1 15/08/2011 10:35

Contents

Editor Joanna PerryWriters Gemma Goldfi ngle, Liz MorrellProduction Editor Tracey GardnerDesign forty6 design LtdPublisher Tracey Davies

For NSA for RetailDirector of Marketing and Communications Kerry [email protected] +44 (0)7795 962 447

© Retail WeekAll material is strictly copyright and all rights were reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of Retail Week is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at the time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for omissions or errors. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Retail Week or Skillsmart Retail.

Retail Therapy is printed by Headley Brothers Ltd. Ashford, Kent

4 LandscapeInternational retailers fl ock

to the UK; how independents

can benefi t from the Retail

Apprenticeship Scheme; part-time

work boosts retail employment;

and we report on the latest

Independents’ Day

Retail Therapy discovers

on retailers and

jobseekers

sector is often

associated

with low

skilled and

low paid

work so

professionalising

industry’s future

success

25 People: InterviewB&Q’s Joanna Robb explains

how she is making her way up the

multichannel retail career ladder

27 People: First jobsSix high-profi le retailers share their

experiences of how much they have

retail industry

where each employee

some of the UK’s

differentiate

themselves from

their competitors

calendar

Jane Rexworthy, head of the National Skills Academy for Retail

Welcome to the National Skills Academy for

Retail’s magazine, Retail Therapy. With a

network of more than 50 skills shops across the

UK, the NSA for Retail has a truly nationwide

offer. We have come a long way since we

launched in April 2009 with just 18 skills shops.

The services the skills shops have to offer, from careers

advice and guidance, to bespoke training courses and

qualifi cations, are more and more in demand.

While recent reports have shown that the number of roles

in retail has grown in 2012, the high staff turnover (about

40%) that has previously characterised the sector has

dropped to 17.5% as people stay put in their roles. Fewer

vacancies mean that ensuring your skills are the best they

can be is ever more important in today’s retail jobs market.

Candidates need to make themselves more attractive

to employers through gaining additional skills and

qualifi cations. The NSA for Retail’s network of skills shops

can advise those working or looking to work in retail and

offers a range of training courses, from pre-employment

training and Apprenticeships to customer service.

People are also considering setting up their own business

and we examine some successful, family-run, independent

retailers in this issue. The NSA for Retail also provides

support for such entrepreneurs, with business courses in

fi nance and business planning, marketing, buying and visual

merchandising as well as support from experienced mentors.

In this issue we also look at how both businesses and

individuals have benefi ted from the many services the

network has to offer, as well as how some of retail’s high

fl iers have carved out their paths to the top of a profession

in which everyone has a real chance to shine.

Foreword

Contents

Issue 10 2012

Retail Therapy discovers Retail Therapy discovers Retail Therapy

on retailers and

jobseekers

sector is often

associated

with low

skilled and

low paid

work so

professionalising

industry’s future

retail industry

where each employee

some of the UK’s

differentiate

themselves from

their competitors

calendar

4 www.nsaforretail.com

Landscape

The National Skills Academy

for Retail has committed to

support towns and high streets

that want to improve their

retail offer.

The health of the country’s

town centres and high streets has

come under scrutiny in the past

year as many have suffered during

the recession. The Government –

working with TV star Mary

Portas – has committed £1.2m in

funding and a package of support

to 12 areas to help rejuvenate

their town centres.

The NSA for Retail wants to

make similar support available to

all areas where local businesses

and the authorities hope to

improve and revitalise.

Jane Rexworthy, head of the

NSA for Retail, has already

given two presentations in areas

where the two bodies hope to

deliver more training and

support. The packed sessions in

Liverpool and Stratford in

London gave local retailers and

The number of jobs in retail has

grown in 2012, and retailers have

also reported they are more posi-

tive on the prospects of creating

additional jobs this year.

In the first three months of 2012,

retail employment rose by 0.4%

compared with the same quarter a

year earlier, according to the BRC-

Bond Pearce Retail Employment

Monitor. This is the equivalent of

an additional 3,011 full-time jobs.

During April to June, the number

of equivalent full-time jobs grew

by 1.8%.

other interested parties informa-

tion on how the organisations can

help to build more profitable and

thriving retail sectors in their

local area.

The return to growth follows a

period in 2011 when retail employ-

ment decreased slightly. Although

the BRC cautions that this upturn

in the number of retail jobs is frag-

ile due to the state of the economy,

its measure of employment inten-

tions became much more positive

during early 2012. It reports that

employment intentions improved

significantly in the first half of

2012 compared with the same

quarter last year.

Business law firm Bond Pearce’s

head of retail employment, Chris-

Towns and high streets urged to invest in skills to thrive

Rexworthy said: “There is a

huge amount of work going on to

revitalise high streets. But to do

that you need skills and the right

people to provide great customer

service, as well as the right prod-

ucts, well merchandised at the

right time.”

She continued: “We’ve recently

launched our Retail Mentor

scheme, which allows highly

regarded retailers to come in

and mentor high streets and

town centres. Or we can

provide packages such as our

WorldHost customer service

training.

“Each location will have a

different need, and we can pack-

age the offer from a whole menu

of support options.”

tina Tolvas-Vincent, said: “This rise

in retail employment year on year,

in a quarter which has seen several

well-publicised failures by retailers,

presents a polarised view of the

sector. There is a stark divide

between those who are surviving

and even growing and those that

have become casualties of the

market. The positive change in

attitude towards staffing levels by

retailers also reflects a trend for

cautious optimism among those

who are finding their feet in the

current economic climate.”

The NSA for Retail has a menu

of training options – delivered

through its national network of

skills shops – that can be tailored

to the needs of a local area.

Retail employment intentions significantly improve

NSA for Retail’s Jane Rexworthy gave presentations in areas that need support

Those interested in hearing about

the support available, contact

[email protected].

Details of local skills shops can be

found at www.nsaforretail.com

15,659Additional full-time jobs in the first half of 2012 compared with last year

Issue 10 2012

International retailers opening

new stores in the UK are providing

many new job opportunities in the

sector, particularly at store level.

Names to have recently opened

or be expanding in the UK include

US fashion brands Forever 21,

Abercrombie & Fitch, Gilly Hicks

and Urban Outfitters. US sports

brand Foot Locker also opened the

first store of its new fascia, The

Locker Room, in January 2012 at

Brent Cross in London.

Swedish fashion brand J Linde-

berg is on the hunt for its first UK

store and French fashion brand

Chanel has opened a pop-up

beauty store in Covent Garden. US

fashion brand J Crew is also plan-

ning London store openings.

Manufacturers are using the UK

– and particularly London – as a

location to develop stores to

promote their brand and engage

with their customers directly.

Japanese sportswear and

running brand Asics opened its

largest UK store to date in London

in July this year, while Swiss coffee

machine and capsule supplier

Nespresso opened its first stan-

dalone London flagship in the

same month. And earlier this year,

US leather goods brand Coach

opened a London flagship on

Regent Street.

International retailers expand in the UK

Gold standard Olympic initiative readies Dorothy Perkins’ staff

International retailers The Locker Room and Nespresso opened in the UK this year

Dorothy Perkins has revealed it

prepared staff for the Olympics

using a training course originally

devised for the 2010 Winter

Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

The Arcadia Group retailer

used the WorldHost programme

to ready staff for an influx of

shoppers at its London stores.

Dorothy Perkins’ staff at stores

in Westfield Stratford City,

Stratford High Street, West One

Bond Street, Marble Arch and

Tottenham Court Road were

trained in ‘gold standard’ customer

services ahead of the Games.

Nearly one million people have

now been trained using World-

Host in more than 20 countries

worldwide. The National Skills

Academy for Retail adapted the

programme for UK retailers. It

offers three different retail-

specific programmes: The Princi-

ples of Customer Service, Sales

Powered By Service and Frontline

Management Solutions.

Dorothy Perkins senior learn-

ing and development manager

Paul Richens said: “The World-

Host customer service training

our staff have undergone means

we will be offering gold standard

customer service to go above

and beyond our customers’ high

expectations.”

Young people not in employment,

education or training will get the

chance to run a high street pop-up

store in a scheme launched by Retail

Trust in conjunction with volun-

teering charity vInspired.

Those taking part, aged 16 to

25, will benefit from a 12-week

skills development and volunteer-

ing programme called Retail Ready

People at one of 10 high street loca-

tions between 2012 and 2014.

Brighton and Hove City and the

London Borough of Enfield are

the first two locations this year. The

National Skills Academy for Retail

will offer training to support the

programme through its skills shops.

There will be 30 volunteers per

location, who will take part in

a series of training workshops

before transforming empty shops

into creative retail spaces.

Terry Ryall, chief executive of

vInspired, said: “Retail Ready

People will create important

opportunities for unemployed

young people to become retail

ready and make a positive differ-

ence in local communities.”

Retail Trust chief executive

Nigel J L Rothband said the

retailers taking part in the scheme

will benefit through their staff ’s

development, giving them “new

skills, confidence and the

opportunity to bring those new

skills back to your business”.

Pop-up shops inspire new retail talent

Landscape

The National Skills Academy

for Retail has committed to

support towns and high streets

that want to improve their

retail offer.

The health of the country’s

town centres and high streets has

come under scrutiny in the past

year as many have suffered during

the recession. The Government –

working with TV star Mary

Portas – has committed £1.2m in

funding and a package of support

to 12 areas to help rejuvenate

their town centres.

The NSA for Retail wants to

make similar support available to

all areas where local businesses

and the authorities hope to

improve and revitalise.

Jane Rexworthy, head of the

NSA for Retail, has already

given two presentations in areas

where the two bodies hope to

deliver more training and

support. The packed sessions in

Liverpool and Stratford in

London gave local retailers and

The number of jobs in retail has

grown in 2012, and retailers have

also reported they are more posi-

tive on the prospects of creating

additional jobs this year.

In the first three months of 2012,

retail employment rose by 0.4%

compared with the same quarter a

year earlier, according to the BRC-

Bond Pearce Retail Employment

Monitor. This is the equivalent of

an additional 3,011 full-time jobs.

During April to June, the number

of equivalent full-time jobs grew

by 1.8%.

other interested parties informa-

tion on how the organisations can

help to build more profitable and

thriving retail sectors in their

local area.

The return to growth follows a

period in 2011 when retail employ-

ment decreased slightly. Although

the BRC cautions that this upturn

in the number of retail jobs is frag-

ile due to the state of the economy,

its measure of employment inten-

tions became much more positive

during early 2012. It reports that

employment intentions improved

significantly in the first half of

2012 compared with the same

quarter last year.

Business law firm Bond Pearce’s

head of retail employment, Chris-

Towns and high streets urged to invest in skills to thrive

Rexworthy said: “There is a

huge amount of work going on to

revitalise high streets. But to do

that you need skills and the right

people to provide great customer

service, as well as the right prod-

ucts, well merchandised at the

right time.”

She continued: “We’ve recently

launched our Retail Mentor

scheme, which allows highly

regarded retailers to come in

and mentor high streets and

town centres. Or we can

provide packages such as our

WorldHost customer service

training.

“Each location will have a

different need, and we can pack-

age the offer from a whole menu

of support options.”

tina Tolvas-Vincent, said: “This rise

in retail employment year on year,

in a quarter which has seen several

well-publicised failures by retailers,

presents a polarised view of the

sector. There is a stark divide

between those who are surviving

and even growing and those that

have become casualties of the

market. The positive change in

attitude towards staffing levels by

retailers also reflects a trend for

cautious optimism among those

who are finding their feet in the

current economic climate.”

The NSA for Retail has a menu

of training options – delivered

through its national network of

skills shops – that can be tailored

to the needs of a local area.

Retail employment intentions significantly improve

NSA for Retail’s Jane Rexworthy gave presentations in areas that need support

Those interested in hearing about

the support available, contact

[email protected].

Details of local skills shops can be

found at www.nsaforretail.com

15,659Additional full-time jobs in the first half of 2012 compared with last year

Issue 10 2012

International retailers opening

new stores in the UK are providing

many new job opportunities in the

sector, particularly at store level.

Names to have recently opened

or be expanding in the UK include

US fashion brands Forever 21,

Abercrombie & Fitch, Gilly Hicks

and Urban Outfitters. US sports

brand Foot Locker also opened the

first store of its new fascia, The

Locker Room, in January 2012 at

Brent Cross in London.

Swedish fashion brand J Linde-

berg is on the hunt for its first UK

store and French fashion brand

Chanel has opened a pop-up

beauty store in Covent Garden. US

fashion brand J Crew is also plan-

ning London store openings.

Manufacturers are using the UK

– and particularly London – as a

location to develop stores to

promote their brand and engage

with their customers directly.

Japanese sportswear and

running brand Asics opened its

largest UK store to date in London

in July this year, while Swiss coffee

machine and capsule supplier

Nespresso opened its first stan-

dalone London flagship in the

same month. And earlier this year,

US leather goods brand Coach

opened a London flagship on

Regent Street.

International retailers expand in the UK

Gold standard Olympic initiative readies Dorothy Perkins’ staff

International retailers The Locker Room and Nespresso opened in the UK this year

Dorothy Perkins has revealed it

prepared staff for the Olympics

using a training course originally

devised for the 2010 Winter

Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

The Arcadia Group retailer

used the WorldHost programme

to ready staff for an influx of

shoppers at its London stores.

Dorothy Perkins’ staff at stores

in Westfield Stratford City,

Stratford High Street, West One

Bond Street, Marble Arch and

Tottenham Court Road were

trained in ‘gold standard’ customer

services ahead of the Games.

Nearly one million people have

now been trained using World-

Host in more than 20 countries

worldwide. The National Skills

Academy for Retail adapted the

programme for UK retailers. It

offers three different retail-

specific programmes: The Princi-

ples of Customer Service, Sales

Powered By Service and Frontline

Management Solutions.

Dorothy Perkins senior learn-

ing and development manager

Paul Richens said: “The World-

Host customer service training

our staff have undergone means

we will be offering gold standard

customer service to go above

and beyond our customers’ high

expectations.”

Young people not in employment,

education or training will get the

chance to run a high street pop-up

store in a scheme launched by Retail

Trust in conjunction with volun-

teering charity vInspired.

Those taking part, aged 16 to

25, will benefit from a 12-week

skills development and volunteer-

ing programme called Retail Ready

People at one of 10 high street loca-

tions between 2012 and 2014.

Brighton and Hove City and the

London Borough of Enfield are

the first two locations this year. The

will offer training to support the

programme through its skills shops.

There will be 30 volunteers per

location, who will take part in

a series of training workshops

before transforming empty shops

into creative retail spaces.

Terry Ryall, chief executive of

vInspired, said: “Retail Ready

People will create important

opportunities for unemployed

young people to become retail

ready and make a positive differ-

ence in local communities.”

Retail Trust chief executive

Nigel J L Rothband said the

retailers taking part in the scheme

will benefit through their staff ’s

development, giving them “new

skills, confidence and the

opportunity to bring those new

skills back to your business”.

Pop-up shops inspire new retail talent

Better homes, better lives, better careers.

Becoming Europe’s leading DIY home improvementretailer doesn’t “just happen”.

It’s part of a bigger plan... a higher ambition.

We have designs on helping people create homes to be proudof. Whether customers are trade professionals or enthusiasticamateurs, we believe in providing them with a first class customerexperience, really helpful advice and great value for money.

People are at the heart of what we do and it’s by developinggood people that helped us become a great company.

We believe in investing in people and their careers. We’re proudthat many of our employees develop new skills and grow theircareers within our company. It’s our policy to promote fromwithin and develop existing teams, all of which creates the uniqueB&Q culture within which we all thrive.

There are always new and exciting opportunities across all areasof our business. So whatever your passion, we’re bound to havethe right job for you. At present we’re currently recruiting forDesign Consultants nationwide. Our Design Consultants areresponsible for creating inspirational designs and delivering ourvision of ‘better homes, better lives’. These roles are perfect forservice driven individuals with a passion for helping people andoffer on target earnings of up to £40k!

Inspiring people to fulfil their potential is what we do best,whether it’s in the workplace or the home - and it’s no accident.At B&Q we’re better by design.

To find out more about careers at B&Q, visit:diy.com/careers

Betterby Design

BNQ 04 S012 297x210_Layout 1 25/09/2012 15:57 Page 1

LandscapeIssue 10 2012

Part-time roles are driving levels

of employment in the retail sector

in 2012.

Half of all retail employees work

part time, according to Skillsmart

Retail. And the boost to retail jobs

in the first six months of 2012

mainly came from new part-time

roles, particularly by supermarket

employers, said the British Retail

Consortium.

This is important to the health

of the overall economy, as retail is

the largest private sector employer

in the UK.

The Office of National Statistics

data shows that females are more

likely to work part time than their

male counterparts in the sector.

ONS data for January to March

2012 shows that those working in

wholesale, retail and the repair of

motor vehicles (the way the indus-

Part-time work boosts total employment in retail sector

Kingfisher (B&Q)

Sainsbury’s

Marks & Spencer

John Lewis Partnership

Co-operative Group

Home Retail Group

Major retailers offering graduate trainee schemes in 2012 include:

Despite the current high youth

unemployment rates, retail contin-

ues to show leadership in providing

jobs for young adults at all levels.

Several big retailers have revital-

ised their graduate schemes in the

past year to take advantage of new

opportunities to engage young

people in junior management roles.

In July 2012, Asda announced a

fast-track graduate scheme to

become a manager in one of its

smaller 175 supermarkets in 12

months, to complement its two-

year management graduate scheme.

Asda’s graduate trainees will learn

how to lead a team of up to 30

colleagues, before taking up a

permanent position in a store.

Asda people director Hayley

Tatum said: “Our trainees will not

only be given first-class training and

be exposed to every element of

the Asda business, but they will

also quickly be making decisions

that will make a real difference to

thousands of customers every week.”

And Kingfisher – which owns

B&Q in the UK – launched an inter-

national graduate scheme this

summer to fast-track young talent

into commercial roles within the

organisation. The first intake will

spend one year at B&Q and another

year at the group’s French business,

Brico Dépôt, working in product

buying, category management and

brand management roles.

Department store John Lewis has

also shown an interest in graduates

as part of the 50-strong recruitment

drive in its IT department, which

has taken place to support the

expansion of technology’s role in

the business. Debenhams encour-

ages graduates to apply for its store

management training programme;

and Tesco has offered 20 different

graduate schemes for the 2012

intake including a store manage-

Retail provides real rewards for graduates

ment programme and distribution

management programme.

Majestic Wine chief executive

Steve Lewis has even said one of the

reasons his business has grown

through the recession is that it

prides itself on recruiting graduates

and training them well, so they can

offer knowledgeable product advice.

Asda’s scheme fast tracks graduates to become a store manager in 12 months

Men worked on average

35.1 hoursper week

Women worked on average

24.4 hoursper week

Average weekly earning of

£308in May 2012

try is grouped by the ONS) worked

on average 30 hours a week.

However, men worked on average

35.1 hours a week, and women

worked 24.4 hours a week during

that period.

Meanwhile, the average weekly

earning for those in wholesale,

retail, hotels and restaurants was

£308 in May this year, up from

£300 a week in the same month

last year.

Better homes, better lives, better careers.

Becoming Europe’s leading DIY home improvementretailer doesn’t “just happen”.

It’s part of a bigger plan... a higher ambition.

We have designs on helping people create homes to be proudof. Whether customers are trade professionals or enthusiasticamateurs, we believe in providing them with a first class customerexperience, really helpful advice and great value for money.

People are at the heart of what we do and it’s by developinggood people that helped us become a great company.

We believe in investing in people and their careers. We’re proudthat many of our employees develop new skills and grow theircareers within our company. It’s our policy to promote fromwithin and develop existing teams, all of which creates the uniqueB&Q culture within which we all thrive.

There are always new and exciting opportunities across all areasof our business. So whatever your passion, we’re bound to havethe right job for you. At present we’re currently recruiting forDesign Consultants nationwide. Our Design Consultants areresponsible for creating inspirational designs and delivering ourvision of ‘better homes, better lives’. These roles are perfect forservice driven individuals with a passion for helping people andoffer on target earnings of up to £40k!

Inspiring people to fulfil their potential is what we do best,whether it’s in the workplace or the home - and it’s no accident.At B&Q we’re better by design.

To find out more about careers at B&Q, visit:diy.com/careers

Betterby Design

BNQ 04 S012 297x210_Layout 1 25/09/2012 15:57 Page 1

Part-time roles are driving levels

of employment in the retail sector

in 2012.

Half of all retail employees work

part time, according to Skillsmart

Retail. And the boost to retail jobs

in the first six months of 2012

mainly came from new part-time

roles, particularly by supermarket

employers, said the British Retail

Consortium.

This is important to the health

of the overall economy, as retail is

the largest private sector employer

in the UK.

The Office of National Statistics

data shows that females are more

likely to work part time than their

male counterparts in the sector.

ONS data for January to March

2012 shows that those working in

wholesale, retail and the repair of

motor vehicles (the way the indus-

Part-time work boosts total employment in retail sector

Kingfisher (B&Q)

Sainsbury’s

Marks & Spencer

John Lewis Partnership

Co-operative Group

Home Retail Group

Major retailers offering graduate trainee schemes in 2012 include:

Despite the current high youth

unemployment rates, retail contin-

ues to show leadership in providing

jobs for young adults at all levels.

Several big retailers have revital-

ised their graduate schemes in the

past year to take advantage of new

opportunities to engage young

people in junior management roles.

In July 2012, Asda announced a

fast-track graduate scheme to

become a manager in one of its

smaller 175 supermarkets in 12

months, to complement its two-

year management graduate scheme.

Asda’s graduate trainees will learn

how to lead a team of up to 30

colleagues, before taking up a

permanent position in a store.

Asda people director Hayley

Tatum said: “Our trainees will not

only be given first-class training and

be exposed to every element of

the Asda business, but they will

also quickly be making decisions

that will make a real difference to

thousands of customers every week.”

And Kingfisher – which owns

B&Q in the UK – launched an inter-

national graduate scheme this

summer to fast-track young talent

into commercial roles within the

organisation. The first intake will

spend one year at B&Q and another

year at the group’s French business,

Brico Dépôt, working in product

buying, category management and

brand management roles.

Department store John Lewis has

also shown an interest in graduates

as part of the 50-strong recruitment

drive in its IT department, which

has taken place to support the

expansion of technology’s role in

the business. Debenhams encour-

ages graduates to apply for its store

management training programme;

and Tesco has offered 20 different

graduate schemes for the 2012

intake including a store manage-

Retail provides real rewards for graduates

ment programme and distribution

management programme.

Majestic Wine chief executive

Steve Lewis has even said one of the

reasons his business has grown

through the recession is that it

prides itself on recruiting graduates

and training them well, so they can

offer knowledgeable product advice.

Asda’s scheme fast tracks graduates to become a store manager in 12 months

Men worked on average

35.1 hoursper week

Women worked on average

24.4 hoursper week

Average weekly earning of

£308in May 2012

try is grouped by the ONS) worked

on average 30 hours a week.

However, men worked on average

35.1 hours a week, and women

worked 24.4 hours a week during

that period.

Meanwhile, the average weekly

earning for those in wholesale,

retail, hotels and restaurants was

£308 in May this year, up from

£300 a week in the same month

last year.

The winners of the Skillsmart Retail

Rising Stars 2012 awards – organised

by Retail Week – were announced in

front of a packed crowd on

September 5, 2012.

The ceremony, held at Grosvenor

House Hotel in central London,

helps raise the profi le of the sector’s

future leaders as well as reward the

hard work undertaken by staff in

junior management positions.

Shortlisted entrants travelled to

London for the judging day in July,

and were interviewed by a panel of

experts (see right). After much

debate, winners were decided,

including the hotly contested overall

prize for Rising Star of the Year.

Skillsmart Retail would like to

thank all of the judges, and

congratulate those who were

shortlisted, and entrants who went

on to be highly commended and

take each of the category prizes

on the night.

For more photos from the

night, please visit

www.retailweekrisingstars.co.uk

The winnersBuyer/Merchandiser of the Year Francesca Hewitt, New Look Online Individual of the Year Richard Johnston, VodafoneStore Support Manager of the Year Karl Steele, Ryman Marketing Team of the Year Christina Richardson, Claire Webber and Helen Buckle, A Suit That FitsHR/Training Individual of the Year Mairi Probin, Iceland Head Offi ce Support Individual of the Year Joanne Dixon, CoastCustomer Service Individual of the Year Claire Barron, VodafoneStore Manager of the Year - Midlands, Wales and Southwest Matt Fox, Pets at HomeStore Manager of the Year - North of England Ian McEvans, Asda Store Manager of the Year - Scotland and Ireland Annie Campbell, Pets at HomeStore Manager of the Year - Southeast and East Anglia Emma Taylor, Topshop TopmanArea Manager of the Year Rachel Hornsby, Signet Skillsmart Retail Apprentice of the Year Jodie Donald, Next NSA for Retail Learner of the Year Rickie Strevens, Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe, BluewaterNSA for Retail Trainer of the Year Natalie Kay, Manchester Skills ShopNSA for Retail Ambassador of the Year Salina Gani, Paul UKRising Star of the Year Francesca Hewitt, New Look

The judgesSally Bailey, chief executive, White StuffLiz Bell, group talent development director, Kingfi sherSuzanne Burnett, HR business partner, Marks & SpencerRyan Cheyne, people director, Pets at HomeMichelle Dawson, community manager, HammersonSandra Dearling, head of training, RymanKara Groves, commercial director, JoulesAndy Harding, director of ecommerce, House of FraserAnna Lloyd, head of HR, New LookNick McGlashan, apprenticeship manager, TescoNeil Moss, head of business solutions, Skillsmart RetailRebecca Murphy, director of human resources and marketing, Goulds Department StoreHamish Paton, commercial director, BrightHouseDennis Reid, chairman, Retail Performance SpecialistsNigel Rothband, chief executive, Retail TrustLisa Templeton, head of HR, SignetJessica Winwright, learning and development manager, BHSNikki Zamblera, human resources director, Debenhams

Retail’s next generation of talent in the spotlight

New Look’s Francesca Hewitt (centre), with Retail Week’s Chris Brook-Carter (left) and comedian Chris Ramsey, was awarded the Rising Star of the Year accolade

t 020 7550 5540e [email protected]

Use keywordsrelevant to whatyou want to do –let them see youspeak the lingo

Ways to make yours a winner...

Get a glowing CV

Put your best foot forward

BE HONESTTHROUGHOUT!The interview will endpretty sharpish if theyrumble you and thinkyou’re blagging it!

Be confident and SMILE!

Check for

correct

spelling and

grammar –

“retail is detail”!

Be yourself! It ’s

important to not

only answer the

questions – dazzle

them with your

personality too.

Research is key

know some key facts about the

business. Be sure to have visited at

least one store, and studied the

website.

Create a SWOT analysis to go

straight to the top of the class!

Be early – but never by morethan 10 minutes.“Reception loitering” is a bigfaux pas.

Keep it on-track...That babysitting when you were12, and the Saturday job at theflorists in 2007 are not of use in landing your dream job now, so chop it out.Don’t write long-winded

cover letters – keep it

short and relevant. And

be sure to email your

CV...snail mail is so not

cool in 2012!

Clear Layout

• Use

• Bullet

• Points

• Not

• Lengthy

• Paragraphs

Nobody reads waffle

How to nail that interview...

Dress as if you already

work there, reflecting the

brand’s “look”. Keep it

smart casual

and FASHIONABLE.

No suits, but no sloppy

jeans either. And nothing

too low-cut for the ladies

please...

Have a couple of questions toask at the end. Your develop-ment and training are goodtopics. Holiday entitlementand if you could leave earlyfor band practice (!) are notparticularly advised.

BLA.019-BG-GFW 420x297 AW 18/5/12 16:32 Page 1

The winners of the Skillsmart Retail

Rising Stars 2012 awards – organised

by Retail Week – were announced in

front of a packed crowd on

September 5, 2012.

The ceremony, held at Grosvenor

House Hotel in central London,

helps raise the profi le of the sector’s

future leaders as well as reward the

hard work undertaken by staff in

junior management positions.

Shortlisted entrants travelled to

London for the judging day in July,

and were interviewed by a panel of

experts (see right). After much

debate, winners were decided,

including the hotly contested overall

prize for Rising Star of the Year.

Skillsmart Retail would like to

thank all of the judges, and

congratulate those who were

shortlisted, and entrants who went

on to be highly commended and

take each of the category prizes

on the night.

For more photos from the

night, please visit

www.retailweekrisingstars.co.uk

The winnersBuyer/Merchandiser of the Year Francesca Hewitt, New Look Online Individual of the Year Richard Johnston, VodafoneStore Support Manager of the Year Karl Steele, Ryman Marketing Team of the Year Christina Richardson, Claire Webber and Helen Buckle, A Suit That FitsHR/Training Individual of the Year Mairi Probin, Iceland Head Offi ce Support Individual of the Year Joanne Dixon, CoastCustomer Service Individual of the Year Claire Barron, VodafoneStore Manager of the Year - Midlands, Wales and Southwest Matt Fox, Pets at HomeStore Manager of the Year - North of England Ian McEvans, Asda Store Manager of the Year - Scotland and Ireland Annie Campbell, Pets at HomeStore Manager of the Year - Southeast and East Anglia Emma Taylor, Topshop TopmanArea Manager of the Year Rachel Hornsby, Signet Skillsmart Retail Apprentice of the Year Jodie Donald, Next NSA for Retail Learner of the Year Rickie Strevens, Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe, BluewaterNSA for Retail Trainer of the Year Natalie Kay, Manchester Skills ShopNSA for Retail Ambassador of the Year Salina Gani, Paul UKRising Star of the Year Francesca Hewitt, New Look

The judgesSally Bailey, chief executive, White StuffLiz Bell, group talent development director, Kingfi sherSuzanne Burnett, HR business partner, Marks & SpencerRyan Cheyne, people director, Pets at HomeMichelle Dawson, community manager, HammersonSandra Dearling, head of training, RymanKara Groves, commercial director, JoulesAndy Harding, director of ecommerce, House of FraserAnna Lloyd, head of HR, New LookNick McGlashan, apprenticeship manager, TescoNeil Moss, head of business solutions, Skillsmart RetailRebecca Murphy, director of human resources and marketing, Goulds Department StoreHamish Paton, commercial director, BrightHouseDennis Reid, chairman, Retail Performance SpecialistsNigel Rothband, chief executive, Retail TrustLisa Templeton, head of HR, SignetJessica Winwright, learning and development manager, BHSNikki Zamblera, human resources director, Debenhams

Retail’s next generation of talent in the spotlight

New Look’s Francesca Hewitt (centre), with Retail Week’s Chris Brook-Carter (left) and comedian Chris Ramsey, was awarded the Rising Star of the Year accolade

t 020 7550 5540e [email protected]

Use keywordsrelevant to whatyou want to do –let them see youspeak the lingo

Ways to make yours a winner...

Get a glowing CV

Put your best foot forward

BE HONESTTHROUGHOUT!The interview will endpretty sharpish if theyrumble you and thinkyou’re blagging it!

Be confident and SMILE!

Check for

correct

spelling and

grammar –

“retail is detail”!

Be yourself! It ’s

important to not

only answer the

questions – dazzle

them with your

personality too.

Research is key

know some key facts about the

business. Be sure to have visited at

least one store, and studied the

website.

Create a SWOT analysis to go

straight to the top of the class!

Be early – but never by morethan 10 minutes.“Reception loitering” is a bigfaux pas.

Keep it on-track...That babysitting when you were12, and the Saturday job at theflorists in 2007 are not of use in landing your dream job now, so chop it out.Don’t write long-winded

cover letters – keep it

short and relevant. And

be sure to email your

CV...snail mail is so not

cool in 2012!

Clear Layout

• Use

• Bullet

• Points

• Not

• Lengthy

• Paragraphs

Nobody reads waffle

How to nail that interview...

Dress as if you already

work there, reflecting the

brand’s “look”. Keep it

smart casual

and FASHIONABLE.

No suits, but no sloppy

jeans either. And nothing

too low-cut for the ladies

please...

Have a couple of questions toask at the end. Your develop-ment and training are goodtopics. Holiday entitlementand if you could leave earlyfor band practice (!) are notparticularly advised.

BLA.019-BG-GFW 420x297 AW 18/5/12 16:32 Page 1

Issue 10 2012

Landscape

Many of the largest businesses in

the UK are reaping the benefits of

having time and resources to set up

and run Apprenticeship schemes

each year. It gives them access to

a pool of young talent committed

to developing their skills and

knowledge of the industry.

And Apprenticeships are also

being heavily backed by the

Government as crucial to creating

a committed and competent

workforce in the UK.

The National Apprenticeship

Service points out that the mixture

of on- and off-the-job training

helps to ensure that apprentices

learn the skills that are best suited,

and of most use, to employers.

Research by the University of

Warwick Institute for Employment

Research into the financial benefits

of Apprenticeships found that

programmes could be completed

within a year, for a relative low cost,

and retailers can expect a payback

by the second year of the

apprentice’s employment.

However, for small independents

taking on even a single apprentice

can be a daunting task. In

2011, more than 11,000 retail

Apprenticeships were completed in

England alone, but despite

accounting for 90% of retail

businesses in the UK, very few of

these apprentices were employed in

independent shops. So the National

Skills Academy for Retail has

created the Retail Apprenticeship

Scheme (RAS) to support such

initiatives for retailers who employ

fewer than 250 staff in England.

Each apprentice is recruited,

trained and employed by the Retail

Apprenticeship Training Agency

(RATA) to reduce the risk, cost and

administrative burden on small

retailers. In return, independent

retailers must commit to providing

a year’s job placement for a full-

time role and pay a fee of about

Apprentices for independentsThe Retail Apprenticeship Scheme has been created to make it simple for independent retailers to benefit from apprentices. Retail Therapy examines how the scheme works

How the Retail Apprenticeship Scheme works

One year placement

of on-the-job training

including 10 days of day

release training begins

RATA supports apprentice

through monthly on-site

assessment with the

retailer

Apprentice achieves a Level 2 Apprenticeship

qualification after a year. Retailer has option to

take on a fully trained employee

£140 a week to cover agency and

apprenticeship wage costs. The

retailer should also provide a clear

role and job description for the

apprentice, and a supervisor or

mentor for them while they

complete their placement.

The benefits of working with

the agency include the possibility

of a £1,500 grant to support

independent retailers taking on

an apprentice for the first time.

In addition, as the apprentice is

employed by RATA, then they

commit to resolve any work-

related problems while the

apprentice is on their placement.

Retailers will get support to ensure

they recruit the right person.

This extends to a promise that

if the apprentice proves not to

be suitable, or the retailer’s

circumstances change, then the

apprentice can be referred back

to RATA and placed with another

retailer.

The first intake of apprentices

began in September 2012 and

involves independent retailers

working with their local skills

shop to select a suitable apprentice.

To ensure that all candidates

are work-ready, they undertake

Skillsmart Retail’s Retail Works

classroom-based, pre-employment

programme. They further benefit

from 10 one-day sessions

throughout their one-year

placement.

At the end of the placement

apprentices should have achieved

the key numerical and communi-

cation skills required to be

a valuable retail employee, as well

as a Level 2 Retail Apprenticeship

qualification. Retailers that then

want to take on their apprentice

as staff are able to employ them

without incurring recruitment

costs and benefit from the

year’s training they have already

received. l

Retailer places

vacancy with RATA

Offer position to

successful interviewee

RATA and retailer

undertake selection process

Apprentice undertakes Retail

Works pre-employment programme

for two weeks

For more information please contact RAS on: E [email protected] T 0844 264 0238

Graduate Senior Team Manager Store Manager Regional Director Managing Director Graduate Senior Team Manager Store Manager Regional Director Managing Director Graduate Assistant Merchandiser, Home Merchandiser, Entertainment Merchandising Manager, Toys Head of Merchandising

Merchandising Graduate Programme Our Commercial function is looking for graduates who would relish the chance to work in one of the UK’s most dynamic and constantly changing environments. Join us on our Merchandising Programme and you’ll be responsible for the large budgets of some of our fastest growing product areas from our general merchandise or fashion ranges. Working alongside the buying team you will deliver sales by ensuring that our products are in the right place, in the right quantity, at the right time. At Tesco we’re committed to developing your career from day one, because we know that to get where you want to go, every little helps. To apply for our Merchandising Graduate Programme, or to find out more about the other opportunities we offer, visit

www.tesco-graduates.com

Issue 10 2012

Landscape

Inspirational retailers and

champion consumers rose to the

challenge to make the second

Independents’ Day a success.

Created to highlight the impor-

tance of diversity on the high

street, and recognise the skills

behind the shop fronts, the

campaign encouraged everyone to

buy at least one thing from a local

independent store.

Thousands of retailers took

part in a huge range of activities

including high street parties, shop-

front barbecues, market stalls,

street entertainment, product

showcases, match-any-offer deals

and customer discounts.

Recent research from the

has revealed that consumers place a

value on independent retailers too,

with 51% of shoppers in the survey

believing they receive a higher level

of customer service from indies.

Retailers in Bishopthorpe Road

in York got together to organise a

street party for the early evening

on July 4. Bagel Boy in Bristol

created an ‘Independent Boy’ bagel

fi lled with bacon, tomato, cream

cheese and guacamole. Meanwhile,

Tamworth Market had a live music

performance from duo Chloe and

Barry Hunt. The Arcadia Delicates-

sen in Lisburn, Belfast attracted a

visit from the local Lord Mayor to

its celebration.

Proving that independent retail-

ers can also thrive in even the

biggest shopping centres, the

MetroCentre in Gateshead backed

the campaign to celebrate the inde-

pendent retailers in the scheme.

Meanwhile, fashion boutique

Aurora in Dungannon, Northern

Ireland offered 40% off its jewellery

collection on the day.

The indie sceneIndependents’ Day 2012 drew support from local retailers and consumers across the country to grow the impact of the event in its second year

high streets, which can have an

impact on the wider local economy.

Jane Rexworthy, head of the NSA

for Retail, said she was delighted to

lead the campaign, as it raises

awareness of the challenges smaller

retailers face, as well as highlighting

their importance to the local and

national economy.

There are estimated to be more

than 171,000 independent retail

businesses in the UK, and 91%

of them employ fewer than 10

people. During 2011, more than

15,000 new independent stores

opened, increasing the total

number by 2.4%. The NSA for

Retail survey also revealed that

42% of consumers choose to

shop locally to boost businesses

and 38% feel they are keeping

local people in work.

British Retail Consortium

director general Stephen Robertson

added that the day should highlight

the campaigns being undertaken

to ensure high streets remain

attractive to both retailers and

consumers: “Successful high streets,

where many independent retailers

are based, are vital to local commu-

nities and economies.

“We continue to campaign for

action to support them and all

the retailers trading in them. That

means keeping business rates and

rents affordable and investing to

make each town centre an attrac-

tive place to visit, which is safe,

welcoming and accessible.” ●

Wakefi eld-based indie Jam gave

away a gift hamper to a customer

after a Jubilee-themed prize draw.

And fashion boutique The Dress-

ing Room in St Albans took part

in the celebration of independent

retail, which also ran throughout

July and proved that it wasn’t

always necessary to offer discounts

to bring customers into the store.

The Dressing Room launched a

competition, inviting consumers to

tell them ‘Why do you shop Inde-

pendent?’, with the best comment

each week winning a prize. Offer-

ing double loyalty points every

Saturday throughout July also

proved successful.

The store’s owner, Deryane Tadd,

said: “This had a fantastic effect,

increasing footfall and boosting

trade on Saturdays by 4% as a direct

result of the promotion.”

Behind the fun promotions there

is a serious message. Consumers

are being urged to use independent

retailers or lose them from their

Retailers were out in force to celebrate this year’s Independents’ Day on July 4

171,495 The number of

independent retail businesses in the UK

91% of independent

retailers employ fewer than 10 people For more pictures from the

day, visit the Independents’

Day Facebook page at www.

facebook.com/independentsday

or follow on Twitter

@Retail_IndieDay

Find your localskills shopThe National Skills Academy for Retail is a network of skills shopsdelivering training and business support across the UK

North West Academy ONE, Liverpool01516 501462 L1 3DN

Cheshire Oaks Retail Academy01513 559487 CH65 9JJ

Cumbria skills shop01228 822707 CA1 1HS

Manchester skills shop01616 117498 M20 2PQ

Preston Retail skills shop01772 225255 PR2 8UR

Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire skills shop01782 238492 ST4 1HH

Trafford Retail skills shop 01619 524889 M32 0XH

Warrington skills shop01925 571105 WA1 1NN

Wirral Retail skills shop01515 517593 CH44 5TN

North EastNewcastle skills shop01914 914175 NE1 7JB

Sunderland skills shop01914 914175 NE11 0SR

Tees Valley skills shop 01914 914175 TS10 1DT

Yorkshire and HumbersideLeeds Retail Skills Academy01132 162237 LS18 4QR

The Source Lincolnshire, Hum-berside and the East Coast of Yorkshire 01142635600 S9 1EA

The Source at Meadowhall01142 635600 S9 1EA

West Midlands

Greater Birmingham skills shop01216 787176 B91 3TA

The Black Country skills shop01384 344644 DY8 1QU

East MidlandsDerby Retail skills shop03001 237890 DE1 2HR

Futurestore, Nottingham skills shop01159 415625 NG1 7LN

Retail Skills Centre, Leicester01162 625921 LE1 1FB

South WestCheltenham and Gloucester 01633 674555 NP10 8FY

Cornwall skills shop0500 832300 NG11 6JZ

Petroc Retail Skills01271 338085 EX31 2BQ

Retail skills shop Dorset01202 205275 BH14 0LS

Skills Centre South West01173 122022 BS1 3LZ

Swindon skills shop 01702 201070 SN2 2DY

South EastBrighton skills shop01273 667788 ex 770 BN1 4FA

Canterbury skills shop01227 811113 CT1 3AJ

Hampshire skills shop07917 853678 PO6 2SA

Skillscentre: Mk*01908 398111 MK9 3ES

Southampton skills shop01590 625555 SO42 7ZE

The Learning Shop, Bluewater 01322 624455 DA9 9SE

LondonHeathrow Retail Academy 07843033255 TW6 2RQ

South London skills shop0208 2971132 SE13 5JX

The Skills Place, Newham020 8090 9719 E20 1EJ

Uxbridge skills shop01895 259854 UB8 1LH

Wembley skills shop 0208 208 5420 HA9 0A9

West End skills shop020 7208 1370 W1F 7LN

Work Zone, Westfi eld London020 8753 4693 W12 7SL

East of EnglandBedfordshire skills shop01582 569850 LU2 7BF

Cambridgeshire skills shop01702 201070 CB1 1PS

North Essex Retail skills shop01268 526924 SS14 1LL

Norwich Retail Skills Academy01603 773708 NR2 1SH

South Essex skills shop08455 212345 RM17 6TF

ScotlandEdinburgh skills shop 01315 573862 EH1 3SS

Fife skills shop 01592 223300 KYI IEX

Grampian skills shop (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire) 07736 367964 AB11 6GY

West Lothian skills shop 01506 427955 EH54 7EP

Northern IrelandGreater Belfast Retail skills shop 028 9127 6781 BT20 4TD

North West Retail skills shop NI 028 7127 6195 BT48 7AL

Southern Retail skills shop NI028 3025 9664 BT35 8DN

WalesAcorn People01633 674555 NP10 8FY

Cardiff and Vale skills shop02920 406509 CF24 3AD

Coleg Llandrillo Retail skills shop 01745 345823 LL18 2HG

* An approved specialist. Only provides some of the National Skills Academy for Retail offer

For more information about skills shops, please visit www.nsaforretail.com

SSR_skills_shop_Ad_A4_Retail_Week.indd 1 28/9/12 09:50:57

Issue 10 2012

Landscape

Inspirational retailers and

champion consumers rose to the

challenge to make the second

Independents’ Day a success.

Created to highlight the impor-

tance of diversity on the high

street, and recognise the skills

behind the shop fronts, the

campaign encouraged everyone to

buy at least one thing from a local

independent store.

Thousands of retailers took

part in a huge range of activities

including high street parties, shop-

front barbecues, market stalls,

street entertainment, product

showcases, match-any-offer deals

and customer discounts.

Recent research from the

has revealed that consumers place a

value on independent retailers too,

with 51% of shoppers in the survey

believing they receive a higher level

of customer service from indies.

Retailers in Bishopthorpe Road

in York got together to organise a

street party for the early evening

on July 4. Bagel Boy in Bristol

created an ‘Independent Boy’ bagel

fi lled with bacon, tomato, cream

cheese and guacamole. Meanwhile,

Tamworth Market had a live music

performance from duo Chloe and

Barry Hunt. The Arcadia Delicates-

sen in Lisburn, Belfast attracted a

visit from the local Lord Mayor to

its celebration.

Proving that independent retail-

ers can also thrive in even the

biggest shopping centres, the

MetroCentre in Gateshead backed

the campaign to celebrate the inde-

pendent retailers in the scheme.

Meanwhile, fashion boutique

Aurora in Dungannon, Northern

Ireland offered 40% off its jewellery

collection on the day.

The indie sceneIndependents’ Day 2012 drew support from local retailers and consumers across the country to grow the impact of the event in its second year

high streets, which can have an

impact on the wider local economy.

Jane Rexworthy, head of the NSA

for Retail, said she was delighted to

lead the campaign, as it raises

awareness of the challenges smaller

retailers face, as well as highlighting

their importance to the local and

national economy.

There are estimated to be more

than 171,000 independent retail

businesses in the UK, and 91%

of them employ fewer than 10

people. During 2011, more than

15,000 new independent stores

opened, increasing the total

number by 2.4%. The NSA for

Retail survey also revealed that

42% of consumers choose to

shop locally to boost businesses

and 38% feel they are keeping

local people in work.

British Retail Consortium

director general Stephen Robertson

added that the day should highlight

the campaigns being undertaken

to ensure high streets remain

attractive to both retailers and

consumers: “Successful high streets,

where many independent retailers

are based, are vital to local commu-

nities and economies.

“We continue to campaign for

action to support them and all

the retailers trading in them. That

means keeping business rates and

rents affordable and investing to

make each town centre an attrac-

tive place to visit, which is safe,

welcoming and accessible.” ●

Wakefi eld-based indie Jam gave

away a gift hamper to a customer

after a Jubilee-themed prize draw.

And fashion boutique The Dress-

ing Room in St Albans took part

in the celebration of independent

retail, which also ran throughout

July and proved that it wasn’t

always necessary to offer discounts

to bring customers into the store.

The Dressing Room launched a

competition, inviting consumers to

tell them ‘Why do you shop Inde-

pendent?’, with the best comment

each week winning a prize. Offer-

ing double loyalty points every

Saturday throughout July also

proved successful.

The store’s owner, Deryane Tadd,

said: “This had a fantastic effect,

increasing footfall and boosting

trade on Saturdays by 4% as a direct

result of the promotion.”

Behind the fun promotions there

is a serious message. Consumers

are being urged to use independent

retailers or lose them from their

Retailers were out in force to celebrate this year’s Independents’ Day on July 4

171,495 The number of

independent retail businesses in the UK

91% of independent

retailers employ fewer than 10 people For more pictures from the

day, visit the Independents’

Day Facebook page at www.

facebook.com/independentsday

or follow on Twitter

@Retail_IndieDay

Find your localskills shopThe National Skills Academy for Retail is a network of skills shopsdelivering training and business support across the UK

North West Academy ONE, Liverpool01516 501462 L1 3DN

Cheshire Oaks Retail Academy01513 559487 CH65 9JJ

Cumbria skills shop01228 822707 CA1 1HS

Manchester skills shop01616 117498 M20 2PQ

Preston Retail skills shop01772 225255 PR2 8UR

Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire skills shop01782 238492 ST4 1HH

Trafford Retail skills shop 01619 524889 M32 0XH

Warrington skills shop01925 571105 WA1 1NN

Wirral Retail skills shop01515 517593 CH44 5TN

North EastNewcastle skills shop01914 914175 NE1 7JB

Sunderland skills shop01914 914175 NE11 0SR

Tees Valley skills shop 01914 914175 TS10 1DT

Yorkshire and HumbersideLeeds Retail Skills Academy01132 162237 LS18 4QR

The Source Lincolnshire, Hum-berside and the East Coast of Yorkshire 01142635600 S9 1EA

The Source at Meadowhall01142 635600 S9 1EA

West Midlands

Greater Birmingham skills shop01216 787176 B91 3TA

The Black Country skills shop01384 344644 DY8 1QU

East MidlandsDerby Retail skills shop03001 237890 DE1 2HR

Futurestore, Nottingham skills shop01159 415625 NG1 7LN

Retail Skills Centre, Leicester01162 625921 LE1 1FB

South WestCheltenham and Gloucester 01633 674555 NP10 8FY

Cornwall skills shop0500 832300 NG11 6JZ

Petroc Retail Skills01271 338085 EX31 2BQ

Retail skills shop Dorset01202 205275 BH14 0LS

Skills Centre South West01173 122022 BS1 3LZ

Swindon skills shop 01702 201070 SN2 2DY

South EastBrighton skills shop01273 667788 ex 770 BN1 4FA

Canterbury skills shop01227 811113 CT1 3AJ

Hampshire skills shop07917 853678 PO6 2SA

Skillscentre: Mk*01908 398111 MK9 3ES

Southampton skills shop01590 625555 SO42 7ZE

The Learning Shop, Bluewater 01322 624455 DA9 9SE

LondonHeathrow Retail Academy 07843033255 TW6 2RQ

South London skills shop0208 2971132 SE13 5JX

The Skills Place, Newham020 8090 9719 E20 1EJ

Uxbridge skills shop01895 259854 UB8 1LH

Wembley skills shop 0208 208 5420 HA9 0A9

West End skills shop020 7208 1370 W1F 7LN

Work Zone, Westfi eld London020 8753 4693 W12 7SL

East of EnglandBedfordshire skills shop01582 569850 LU2 7BF

Cambridgeshire skills shop01702 201070 CB1 1PS

North Essex Retail skills shop01268 526924 SS14 1LL

Norwich Retail Skills Academy01603 773708 NR2 1SH

South Essex skills shop08455 212345 RM17 6TF

ScotlandEdinburgh skills shop 01315 573862 EH1 3SS

Fife skills shop 01592 223300 KYI IEX

Grampian skills shop (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire) 07736 367964 AB11 6GY

West Lothian skills shop 01506 427955 EH54 7EP

Northern IrelandGreater Belfast Retail skills shop 028 9127 6781 BT20 4TD

North West Retail skills shop NI 028 7127 6195 BT48 7AL

Southern Retail skills shop NI028 3025 9664 BT35 8DN

WalesAcorn People01633 674555 NP10 8FY

Cardiff and Vale skills shop02920 406509 CF24 3AD

Coleg Llandrillo Retail skills shop 01745 345823 LL18 2HG

* An approved specialist. Only provides some of the National Skills Academy for Retail offer

For more information about skills shops, please visit www.nsaforretail.com

SSR_skills_shop_Ad_A4_Retail_Week.indd 1 28/9/12 09:50:57

Debate

Newspaper articles describ-

ing work experience place-

ments for jobseekers as

“workfare”, with terms such

as “exploitation” and “slave

labour” also being bandied

about, shook the retail industry in spring 2012.

Many retailers had been involved in the Govern-

ment-backed Work Experience scheme, offering

those under 25 on jobseeker’s allowance a six-week

placement; with the idea of giving them enough skills

and experience of work in that time to demonstrate

their ability to do a job.

It began with a Work Experience placement being

incorrectly advertised as a job by Jobcentre Plus.

Campaign group Right To Work took exception to

the scheme being unpaid, and the possibility that

those who took part might lose their benefits if they

chose to take part in the scheme for longer than a

week before pulling out.

Retailers were pulled into the argument, and many

quickly suspended or ended their involvement in the

scheme as they sought to divert attention away from

themselves. Six months later we want to examine

what the longer-term effects of the critical media

coverage have been, and whether it has reduced

opportunities for jobseekers to be helped back into

work by retailers.

Positive prospectsSkillsmart Retail chief executive Anne Seaman spoke

up for retailers and their track record in helping

people into employment at the time of the contro-

versy. Six months later she is just as passionate about

the issue, and says she doesn’t feel it has stopped

retailers from offering work experience placements,

though they may be going more under the radar.

“Policymakers don’t understand business, you

can’t just switch programmes on and off overnight

that might have taken many months to set up,”

she explains.

Much was made of the fact that the programme

didn’t pay, but as those joining were on benefits the

only full-time work they could undertake was

unpaid. Seaman says it is a shame the benefits system

is not flexible enough to allow people to take steps

into work while still being financially supported

to some degree.

However, as it stands, she says: “If someone is on

benefits and that would be affected by being paid

then it is perfectly legitimate to offer unpaid work

experience. Your chances of getting a full-time job

that would make it worth moving off benefits signifi-

cantly improve with the work experience.”

She believes that the idea retailers would join work

experience schemes just to get free short-term labour

for free is ridiculous. “Big companies are not just

going to take anyone. They want to take people that

they can train, recruit and keep.”

The results of an ICM consumer poll from the

time strongly support Seaman’s views, and show that

the general public felt there was a reasonable chance

for jobseekers to gain paid employment off the back

of a work experience placement (see box).

Experience for allAt the time, Boots and Poundland said they were

pulling out of the programme, and others including

Maplin, Argos and Superdrug suspended their

involvement. Tesco created a new scheme to sit

alongside Work Experience, offering four weeks’ paid

work experience followed by a job interview.

A Tesco spokesperson explains to Retail Therapy:

“We know that being unemployed at an early age can

be particularly damaging, so we’re involved in a

number of initiatives to help young people gain

employability skills, get experience of working and

ultimately find jobs.

“In February, we decided to give people who

wanted to do work experience with Tesco a choice.

They could either remain on benefits within the

Government work placement scheme, or be paid by

Tesco, at the same rate as our other new starters get,

with the guarantee of a job at the end if the place-

ment goes well.”

Sainsbury’s was never part of the official Work

Experience scheme, yet its chief executive Justin King

felt moved to speak out on the issue. Its stance has

Most of us in work today had invaluable work experience in the early part of our working lives – this should not be denied to othersJustin King, Sainsbury’s

The controversy over work experience schemes has now subsided. Joanna Perry finds out what the fall-out has been for retailers and jobseekers

Whatever happened about ‘workfare’?

Issue 10 2012

been unchanged by hindsight, and Sainsbury’s refers

us back to King’s comments from the time, which

stressed that while not all work experience place-

ments are necessarily equal, businesses such as his

have much to offer through decent and fair schemes.

Sainsbury’s has run its own work trial programme

‘You Can’ since 2008, for people who have previously

faced significant barriers to finding work, including

young people, the long-term unemployed or those

with learning difficulties. The voluntary work trials

of up to three weeks are always attached to a real job

if the trial is successful. Sainsbury’s employed 4,300

people through the scheme in 2011, and says it has

created a total of 12,000 job opportunities through

its schemes since 2008.

King implored: “Most of us in work today had

invaluable work experience in the early part of our

working lives – this should not be denied to others.”

Further proof that retailers want to employ people

that complete work placements with them comes

from the success of the graduates of the Fashion

Retail Academy. It encourages its students to take on

work placements as an integral part of all its courses.

In the 2011/12 academic year the academy

secured 704 student placements, and 69% have been

offered a job through the company that provided

their placement. On their graduation day, 68% of

students from the Level 4 Buying and Merchandising

and Visual Merchandising courses had secured jobs.

83% of students who completed the Higher Educa-

tion certificate in Fashion Merchandising have

secured merchandise administrative assistant roles.

Attention on ApprenticeshipsTesco was the retailer that initially took much

of the flak for the Work Experience scheme.

However, Seaman says the retailer is doing

much work with the young: “Tesco is growing the

Apprenticeship schemes across a range of areas, as

now it has a scalable model. It wants to bring young

people into its business.”

She adds that retailers can’t afford to keep

reacting to the headlines, and shouldn’t be scared

off similar initiatives.

The Tesco spokesperson adds: “We are already

the country’s largest private sector employer of

The retail sector employs

10.5% of the UK workforce

The public’s verdict

Despite negative press

for the Work Experience

scheme, an ICM consumer

poll conducted for Retail

Week showed the public was

overwhelmingly in favour of

retailers offering placements

to the unemployed.

Some 73% said retailers

should participate in

Government work experi-

ence schemes, 25% believed

schemes could strongly

boost the chances of an

unemployed person finding

a job, and a further 48%

thought it might help. Only

22% said it wouldn’t help a

jobseeker find employment.

Debate

Newspaper articles describ-

ing work experience place-

ments for jobseekers as

“workfare”, with terms such

as “exploitation” and “slave

labour” also being bandied

about, shook the retail industry in spring 2012.

Many retailers had been involved in the Govern-

ment-backed Work Experience scheme, offering

those under 25 on jobseeker’s allowance a six-week

placement; with the idea of giving them enough skills

and experience of work in that time to demonstrate

their ability to do a job.

It began with a Work Experience placement being

incorrectly advertised as a job by Jobcentre Plus.

Campaign group Right To Work took exception to

the scheme being unpaid, and the possibility that

those who took part might lose their benefits if they

chose to take part in the scheme for longer than a

week before pulling out.

Retailers were pulled into the argument, and many

quickly suspended or ended their involvement in the

scheme as they sought to divert attention away from

themselves. Six months later we want to examine

what the longer-term effects of the critical media

coverage have been, and whether it has reduced

opportunities for jobseekers to be helped back into

work by retailers.

Positive prospectsSkillsmart Retail chief executive Anne Seaman spoke

up for retailers and their track record in helping

people into employment at the time of the contro-

versy. Six months later she is just as passionate about

the issue, and says she doesn’t feel it has stopped

retailers from offering work experience placements,

though they may be going more under the radar.

“Policymakers don’t understand business, you

can’t just switch programmes on and off overnight

that might have taken many months to set up,”

she explains.

Much was made of the fact that the programme

didn’t pay, but as those joining were on benefits the

only full-time work they could undertake was

unpaid. Seaman says it is a shame the benefits system

is not flexible enough to allow people to take steps

into work while still being financially supported

to some degree.

However, as it stands, she says: “If someone is on

benefits and that would be affected by being paid

then it is perfectly legitimate to offer unpaid work

experience. Your chances of getting a full-time job

that would make it worth moving off benefits signifi-

cantly improve with the work experience.”

She believes that the idea retailers would join work

experience schemes just to get free short-term labour

for free is ridiculous. “Big companies are not just

going to take anyone. They want to take people that

they can train, recruit and keep.”

The results of an ICM consumer poll from the

time strongly support Seaman’s views, and show that

the general public felt there was a reasonable chance

for jobseekers to gain paid employment off the back

of a work experience placement (see box).

Experience for allAt the time, Boots and Poundland said they were

pulling out of the programme, and others including

Maplin, Argos and Superdrug suspended their

involvement. Tesco created a new scheme to sit

alongside Work Experience, offering four weeks’ paid

work experience followed by a job interview.

A Tesco spokesperson explains to Retail Therapy:

“We know that being unemployed at an early age can

be particularly damaging, so we’re involved in a

number of initiatives to help young people gain

employability skills, get experience of working and

ultimately find jobs.

“In February, we decided to give people who

wanted to do work experience with Tesco a choice.

They could either remain on benefits within the

Government work placement scheme, or be paid by

Tesco, at the same rate as our other new starters get,

with the guarantee of a job at the end if the place-

ment goes well.”

Sainsbury’s was never part of the official Work

Experience scheme, yet its chief executive Justin King

felt moved to speak out on the issue. Its stance has

Most of us in work today had invaluable work experience in the early part of our working lives – this should not be denied to othersJustin King, Sainsbury’s

The controversy over work experience schemes has now subsided. Joanna Perry finds out what the fall-out has been for retailers and jobseekers

Whatever happened about ‘workfare’?

Issue 10 2012

been unchanged by hindsight, and Sainsbury’s refers

us back to King’s comments from the time, which

stressed that while not all work experience place-

ments are necessarily equal, businesses such as his

have much to offer through decent and fair schemes.

Sainsbury’s has run its own work trial programme

‘You Can’ since 2008, for people who have previously

faced significant barriers to finding work, including

young people, the long-term unemployed or those

with learning difficulties. The voluntary work trials

of up to three weeks are always attached to a real job

if the trial is successful. Sainsbury’s employed 4,300

people through the scheme in 2011, and says it has

created a total of 12,000 job opportunities through

its schemes since 2008.

King implored: “Most of us in work today had

invaluable work experience in the early part of our

working lives – this should not be denied to others.”

Further proof that retailers want to employ people

that complete work placements with them comes

from the success of the graduates of the Fashion

Retail Academy. It encourages its students to take on

work placements as an integral part of all its courses.

In the 2011/12 academic year the academy

secured 704 student placements, and 69% have been

offered a job through the company that provided

their placement. On their graduation day, 68% of

students from the Level 4 Buying and Merchandising

and Visual Merchandising courses had secured jobs.

83% of students who completed the Higher Educa-

tion certificate in Fashion Merchandising have

secured merchandise administrative assistant roles.

Attention on ApprenticeshipsTesco was the retailer that initially took much

of the flak for the Work Experience scheme.

However, Seaman says the retailer is doing

much work with the young: “Tesco is growing the

Apprenticeship schemes across a range of areas, as

now it has a scalable model. It wants to bring young

people into its business.”

She adds that retailers can’t afford to keep

reacting to the headlines, and shouldn’t be scared

off similar initiatives.

The Tesco spokesperson adds: “We are already

the country’s largest private sector employer of

The public’s verdict

Despite negative press

for the Work Experience

scheme, an ICM consumer

poll conducted for Retail

Week showed the public was

overwhelmingly in favour of

retailers offering placements

to the unemployed.

Some 73% said retailers

should participate in

Government work experi-

ence schemes, 25% believed

schemes could strongly

boost the chances of an

unemployed person finding

a job, and a further 48%

thought it might help. Only

22% said it wouldn’t help a

jobseeker find employment.

DebateIssue 10 2012

young people with 70,000 – almost a quarter of our

workforce – under 25. Tesco offers young colleagues

a chance to start a career, learning new skills at

every level through our Apprenticeships, school

leaver and graduate training programmes, and

foundation degrees.”

In the next two years, Tesco will offer 10,000 places

on Apprenticeship schemes. Seaman believes that

many larger retailers have focused their attention on

Apprenticeships in the wake of the workfare

argument. She explains: “We don’t have specific

evidence yet, but we are speaking to senior people in

retail who are focused on Apprenticeships and

more structured programmes.”

Waitrose launched a year-long Apprenticeship

scheme in September 2012 – and has pledged to

provide three Apprenticeship places in every new,

large store it opens.

Skillsmart Retail will issue 17,000 Apprenticeship

certificates this year, up from about 14,000 last year.

While Seaman admits that Apprenticeships have had

some bad press, she says retailers can’t afford to have

spare bodies on the shopfloor, and so those thinking

about an Apprenticeship in the sector need not worry

that they won’t be doing a ‘real’ job.

She says: “In no time at all they are an essential

part of the team. They are dropped in at the deep end

and get on with it. For instance, they come back

and tell us that they are quickly leading small teams

within stores.”

The National Skills Academy for Retail is looking

at a pre-Apprenticeship programme as Seaman says

“often young people aren’t well prepared for work”.

Head of the NSA for Retail Jane Rexworthy says

in addition to its pre-employment programme,

it is now exploring the idea of a pre-Apprenticeship

programme too. To highlight why this is necessary

she gives the example of a retailer offering

a programme that allows apprentices to train to

be managers within the business. She says the

retailer “had over 8,000 applications for 350

positions, and in Scotland had 1,400 applications

for just under 30 positions”.

She adds: “In the sifting process, many of the indi-

viduals were not really work-ready. They needed

support, training and development to get to the

point where they could begin an Apprenticeship.”

They also already have their Retail Works

programme, though Seaman says it is hard to make

this joined up, with individual skills shops working

with whichever local organisations are prepared to

get involved, such as colleges and Jobcentre Plus.

Intern issueJustin King’s point about how people at all levels of

retail have often undertaken work experience in

order to get their foot in the door remains just as

true for new management trainee recruits as it

does for store staff.

Aldi is one of many retailers that likes to see

work experience on a new recruit’s CV, even for

graduate positions. Speaking about its latest graduate

programme, Aldi’s head of graduate recruitment,

Richard Holloway, said: “We’re looking for outstand-

ing candidates who can offer something beyond

academic achievements. Strong personalities, work

experience, hobbies and leading teams at university

are key strengths that we have identified.”

In fact, many graduates keen to get into different

sectors are finding that unpaid internships are the

only way to add experience to their CVs.

On the subject of internships, Seaman believes

retailers also try to be fair. “It may not be the best

paid industry [in which to be an intern], but I believe

that interns should be paid.”

Arcadia has retrospectively paid dozens of interns

who worked in the PR department at its head office

up to a year after their placements ended. The retailer

said the cheques had been sent out after an internal

review of intern placements.

And Kingfisher was also advertising a three-month

paid internship in internal communications on a

graduate jobsite for summer 2012.

The issue of whether these longer placements

should always be paid at minimum wage rates or

better is likely to rumble on, with HMRC reported to

have visited fashion houses to ensure all workers are

paid what they are owed.

Meanwhile, hopefully the arguments about

work experience have been put to rest, and

retailers can be confident that there is backing and

support for those who want to offer placements

and job trials to jobseekers as a stepping stone

into employment. l

School leavers heading for retail

School leavers are being targeted as part of a new scheme by Tesco to help

young people launch their retail career at its Hertfordshire head office.

Tesco is offering paid jobs to young people, beginning with a two-year

training programme, with roles in both its food and clothing buying

or merchandising teams. For instance, successful applicants for the fashion

roles will be given the opportunity to work on brands such as F&F, learning

how to spot trends, source products and negotiate with suppliers.

“Not everyone wants to go to university before they start working, and in

a tough jobs market we want to help talented students looking to start their

career straight from school, said head of commercial resourcing Justine Dinter.

“We want to employ young people with a passion for retail who can spot

trends and who can understand what our customers want.”

The scheme will run alongside the existing store trainee management

programme for school leavers and a further 19 graduate programmes

already on offer.

Tesco wants to bring young people into its businessAnne Seaman, Skillsmart Retail

Short Courses at the Fashion Retail Academy

Why choose an FRA short course? At the FRA we offer a unique and varied programme of short courses related to careers in fashion retail and the fashion retail business.If you would like to develop new skills, pursue a particular passion, start your own business, or improve you career prospects there is a short course at the FRA for you.Courses are delivered in different formats depending on the subject, ranging from 3-day blocks or 1 week intensive, to the 6 week Advanced Course.Some of our courses are delivered in the evening as well as during the day to enable you to fit them around other commitments of work or study.

Courses on Offer • Advanced Preparation for a Career in Fashion Retail• Introduction to Buying and Merchandising intensive• Introduction to Buying and Range Planning• Introduction to Merchandising• Introduction to Fashion PR and Marketing• Introduction to Visual Merchandising• Introduction to Fashion Styling

FRA15 Gresse StreetLondon W1T 1QLT: 020 7307 2345

What to do next? For details of all FRA short courses, dates and how to apply, visit our website

www.fashionretailacademy.ac.uk/ short-courses

online