Retailers fail to buy into modern apprenticeships

Citation

(2003), "Retailers fail to buy into modern apprenticeships", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445gab.003

Retailers fail to buy into modern apprenticeships

Retailers fail to buy into modern apprenticeships

Modern apprenticeships have not had the desired impact on skill levels within retailing. Major chains have opted for alternative training methods, while smaller retailers remain largely unaware of modern apprenticeships and what they offer. Research among 519 retailers did not find they were negative towards the programme, however. They believed it had been moderately successful and had a part to play in building productivity within the industry. The research, by Skillsmart, focused on awareness of, and attitudes towards, modern apprenticeships, current and expected usage, perceived impact on the business and barriers to usage.

The findings suggest that general awareness within the retail sector is low, with less than half the respondents indicating that they knew of the programme. This reflects the high percentage of small retailers that make up the industry and which were included in the survey, once again providing an indication of the difficulties associated in communicating availability of training support to smaller businesses. High awareness was evident among the medium-size and large retailers, but the latter have mainly opted for alternative training methods. In-house programmes are particularly popular because of the companies' ability to tailor these to their specific needs. Smaller retailers indicated that in-house training also had a major part to play in their businesses, partly because of resource limitations but also because such schemes were considered fit for purpose. In some cases, small retailers wrongly believed that modern apprenticeships did not apply to businesses of their size.

Where retailers were using modern apprenticeships, they felt that the programme had been a moderate success. All were aware of the potential of the programme to motivate young people and to provide high-quality training, but this was countered by the complexity of the programme, the bureaucracy, the relatively poor quality of entrants and the low completion rates. Many of these companies indicated that they were likely to continue using modern apprenticeships as a training route, but that they would like to see changes more closely to reflect the needs of the retail sector and their businesses. Although indications are that these companies would continue using the programme, the research suggested that penetration in the industry was unlikely to increase in the short term.