Supermarket launches ‘young retailer programme’ to boost youth employment

• Up to 15,000 work experience placements for 14-16 year olds, showing young people that work matters
• 15,000 apprenticeships for Asda colleagues, putting young people firmly on the ladder to a rewarding career.
• 28,000 job opportunities ideal for young people, with every single new starter to Asda receiving City & Guilds accredited training.

On the day of the IGD’s Skills and Employment Summit in London, Asda today (Wednesday 10th March) announced that it is launching a new retail programme especially for young people, helping them gain experience and develop the skills they need to climb the career ladder.

The supermarket’s commitment means that from May, Asda will open its doors to up to 15,000 kids aged 14-16 for the chance to experience a week’s worth of real work, as well as giving 15,000 of its existing colleagues the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised apprenticeship.

As part of the scheme, every single one of Asda’s 371 stores will be adopting a local school or college to help introduce young people into the world of work.

The programme, which was shaped by interviews and focus groups with more than 100 young people across the UK, means that instead of sweeping up, running errands and making the tea, they’ll get the opportunity to discover real work – from the challenges of stock control and the logistics of delivery, to the delights of customer service and working in the community.

Existing Asda employees will also benefit from a new 12 week apprenticeship programme which will be assessed and validated by learning provider Protocol. Initially it will give eligible colleagues in Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the North East a chance to gain a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Retail Skills – equivalent to five good GCSEs – before being rolling out to the rest of the UK before the end of 2010.

Despite Asda having one of the lowest labour turnover rates in the industry, due to the size of the company, the supermarket will need to recruit 22,000 people to fill vacancies this year. It will also create 6,000 new jobs through its new store opening programme – roles which are ideal for young people looking for their first job.

What’s more, every single one of Asda’s 28,000 new starters this year will receive training accredited by the UK’s leading awards body, City & Guilds, further showcasing the supermarkets commitment to developing young people.

Andy Clarke, Asda’s chief operating officer, said “One million people under the age of 25 are unemployed, and it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better. That’s why I’m determined that we do everything we can now to help young people get a foot in the door. This is about giving them a hand up, not a hand out.

“This year Asda will offer up to 15,000 work experience places to 14-16 year olds, plus 15,000 apprenticeships to existing colleagues, ideal for those at the start of their retail career. “Despite having the lowest turnover in the industry, due to our size, we’ll also recruit 22,000 new people to join our business and fill existing vacancies. Combined with the 6,000 new jobs we’ll create this year that adds up to nearly 60,000 opportunities for young people at Asda.”

Asda’s announcement is the latest in a long line of initiatives launched by the supermarket in a bid to further reinforce its passion to support young people with rewarding careers.

Asda is already proud to be one of 150 employers supporting the Government’s ‘Backing Young Britain’ campaign, which launched last year to encourage greater work experience and internships to help youth employment.

The supermarket currently employs more than 37,000 colleagues between the ages of 18 and 24 – nearly a quarter of its entire workforce – and almost 75 per cent of its 10,000 strong ‘Seasonal Squad’ are aged between 16 and 24. In addition, Asda is one of the only retailers in the UK to offer the same rate of pay to under 18s.

Andy Clarke added:

“By giving young people the opportunity to learn life skills, receive accredited training or gain a nationally recognised apprenticeship, we’re giving them valuable experience which they can put on their CV and proving to them that working at Asda can provide them with a stepping stone to a great career in retail.”

For more information or to register interest in the programme, please visit www.asdayoungpeople.co.uk

European funding of more than £4.7 million is being invested in initiatives to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the creation of 580 new jobs across Scotland.

On a visit to life sciences company Biopta, First Minister Alex Salmond said that the new allocations from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will strengthen Scotland's economic recovery by investing in programmes that offer advice and assistance to new and small businesses across Scotland.

The growth of Biopta – a company that tests the efficacy and safety of drugs for the pharmaceutical industry using ethically sourced human tissue – has been aided by previous investments from the ERDF supported Scottish Enterprise Scottish Co-investment Fund. Biopta was spun out of Glasgow Caledonian University in 2002 and currently employs 18 staff in the West of Scotland.

The projects receiving a share of the £4.7 million funding allocation are:

• Support for Young Innovative Enterprises (YIE) – the Scottish Enterprise project aims to assist 15 young technology companies with selective grant funding. The project will make use of specialists and seasoned entrepreneurs with industry expertise to advise clients on management teams, fund raising and access to markets
   
• Advanced Entrepreneurial & Pre Incubation Support – the project will provide entrepreneurial training and support by linking businesses to universities that can assist their development. The project will aim to provide financial support to 87 enterprises potentially resulting in 352 new business start ups
   
• Enterprise@DC – the Dundee College programme will work to increase the number of people from the city's poorest communities to explore, and to start, their own businesses through providing facilities and expertise in areas such as IT, e-commerce and marketing. It aims to create 150 new business start ups and increase the turnover of supported enterprises 

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"The Scottish Government is using all economic levers at our command to support businesses through the downturn and towards sustainable economic growth.

"This announcement of more than #4.7 million European funding will deliver quality support and advice services for business growth which will benefit around 500 companies and potentially create 580 jobs. The three funded projects will focus on encouraging and developing ambitious entrepreneurs and businesses, and I am confident that they will help to support the creation of many more Scottish success stories, like Biopta, which benefited from an ERDF funded initiative.

"It is important that our small businesses have access to support and advice, particularly in this challenging economic climate, so that they can realise their potential, seize opportunities, expand, invest and contribute to Scotland's sustainable economic growth.

"This new investment will build on the package of measures successfully introduced by this Government to support enterprise across Scotland. Our Small Business Bonus will save small businesses an estimated #100 million this year and our comprehensive apprenticeship support programme is working to ensure that Scotland's workforce has the skills and experience required to secure investment and deliver success.

"Our Economic Recovery Plan has directly supported up to 15,000 jobs in the Scottish economy and this further investment will build on our efforts towards ensuring entrepreneurs and businesses across Scotland can realise their ambitions, achieve their potential and play a key role in Scotland's future economic success."

CEO of Biopta, Dr David Bunton, said:

"Biopta has previously received support through the Co-Investment fund, most recently in 2008. This funding was critical to the growth of the company in three key areas: development and production of our unique perfusion myograph instrument, which now creates revenue as part of our service business; expansion of our established tissue supply network throughout the UK and beyond; and creation of an internal Research and Development team, focussed on developing new services for our clients. We are delighted this support will continue to be available to other small businesses."

Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, Lena Wilson, said:

"Scotland has an excellent track record of attracting European funding to develop new projects and support young and ambitious Scottish companies like Biopta. The additional funding announced today will help deliver even more support to companies across Scotland to grow their businesses and become more competitive."

Advanced Entrepreneurial & Pre Incubation Support and Support for Young Innovative Enterprises (YIE) are schemes that will be available to businesses in local authority areas in the Lower and Uplands Scotland (LUPS) area: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll & Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries & Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh City, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Perth & Kinross, Renfrewshire, Scottish borders, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, and West Lothian.

Biopta Ltd is a privately owned life sciences company, which was spun out of Glasgow Caledonian University in 2002 by Dr David Bunton and Prof Chris Hillier. Biopta has benefitted from the support of the Scottish Co-Investment Fund through matched investment from Braveheart Investment Group and TriCap. The efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals is tested at Biopta's specialist laboratories using ethically donated human tissue. Biopta now counts 8 of the top 10 major pharmaceutical companies as its clients and achieves over 70 per cent of its service revenues from outside the UK.