In honor of National Apprenticeship Week Tesco announced an expansion of their Stronger Starts programme. They have introduced five times as many places this year, and are targeting 1,500 opportunities for apprenticeships by 2027.
Tesco will expand this year’s intake from 82 to 450 apprentices. This is to ensure that even more young people can gain the experience, skills and support they need to create brighter futures. One Stop, a subsidiary of the Tesco Group, offers 10 Stronger Starts Apprenticeships for first time.
Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme is designed to remove barriers to entry. It is one of the few programmes in England where applicants do not need to have qualifications or previous experience to begin. Apprentices are paid the same as their shop-floor counterparts, regardless of experience and age.
Tesco has called on the government for a timetable to replace the Apprenticeship Levy with its Growth and Skills Levy. This will build on the work done by Richard Pennycook, interim chair of Skills England, to launch collaborative work between training providers and employers to develop new courses. The retailer said that this would allow for better tailored training and development across the economy, and “at every corner of the labor market”.
Emma Taylor, Tesco’s chief people officer, stated: “Everyone should have the opportunity to find rewarding, good-paying work. Many young people are faced with barriers to employment, but this can be changed with the right support. Stronger Starts is a prime example of how quality training can assist young people in gaining essential skills and qualifications and a positive career start. We are expanding this initiative to give more young people the confidence and tools they need to create a better future.
“However to unlock the full potentail of programmes such as Stronger Starts we need a training system which is fit for purpose. The Growth and Skills Levy is a unique opportunity to transform how training is delivered and funded. We could reach more people and provide even greater opportunities to those in need.
The 15-month program, designed in partnership with Lifetime Training, the King’s Trust and other organisations, provides comprehensive training that combines academic qualifications with practical experience. Apprentices who complete the program will have the equivalent of 5 GCSEs plus Functional Skills Qualifications in Maths and English. All apprentices in the scheme are eligible to become permanent employees.
Tesco’s expansion of apprenticeships is supported by research done in partnership with Social Market Foundation, a think tank. The study revealed that 6 million people struggle to find a job. Many of these people are between the ages of 18-24 and come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The CIPD revealed in its data last year that the number of apprenticeships for those under 19 has fallen by 41%.
Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme is available to all school leavers in England.
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