Last updated 22/10/2009
Morrisons announces that 20,000 employees are to train for a nationally recognised qualification in retail skills, in the biggest programme of its kind in the UK. Providing tailored training to achieve a QCF* Level 2 qualification, the nationwide programme will start in January 2010, and be complete by spring, further confirming the company’s commitment to leading in fresh food skills development.
Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, visited Morrisons in Bradford, West Yorkshire, to present qualification certificates to the first of the 20,000 employees to complete their training following a successful plot in six stores. From the pilot scheme, nearly 400 employees will achieve the new QCF qualification by the end of the year.
Morrisons also announced its commitment to extending tailored retail skills training for every member of staff in every store across the country, starting early-2010.
Commenting at the event, Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP said;
“Morrisons is a company that is moving forward in a way that gives every employee better prospects for the future. What Morrisons is doing is changing the whole culture of this industry so that everybody who starts at the company will have chance of promotion and a qualification, and everybody who starts at Morrisons will see the prospects that lie ahead for them. Morrisons is therefore leading the way in the whole of the retail trade throughout the country.
“This is probably the biggest announcement of training opportunities that any company has ever made in one day. I wish Morrisons well with this new great training programme.”
Marc Bolland, Morrisons Chief Executive, said: “Investing in skills gives people the chance to grow with the business and provides great service to our customers. We give everyone the opportunity of developing from the shop floor to the top floor. Investing in people builds the leaders of the future and sustainable performance. “
The QCF programme is part of the Morrisons ‘Fresh Food Academy’ which aims to train 100,000 employees by 2011.