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Pre-employment Retail Skills Standard Retail Works. Introduction to the Retail Sector Skills Council’s Sector Routeway Programme. In response to sector recruitment and labour market needs National consistent quality approach to pre-employment training
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Introduction to the Retail Sector Skills Council’s Sector Routeway Programme • In response to sector recruitment and labour market needs • National consistent quality approach to pre-employment training • Developed in association with Jobcentre Plus and the LSC • Material developed by retail training specialist and retailers
Positioning of Retail Works The purpose of Retail Works is to give work ready learners the specific knowledge and understanding they need for gaining interviews and employment in the retail sector • Numeracy and literacy needs addressed • Generic employability standard met • Retail Works delivered to work ready learners, preferably using the employability toolkit • Intensive job search for learners who have met the retail skills standard through Retail Works • Progression to further learning
Retail Sector Routeway • Selection event • Recruitment checklist • Three week optional work placement model • Mandatory 30 hour programme • Optional 6 week pre-employment training programme • Tutor Guide
The training programme – the mandatory element • Based on Jobcentre Plus benefit criteria i.e. 30 hour training programme/ 2 weeks – can be incorporated into longer term pre-employment programmes • Mapped to the Level 1 Award in Retail Knowledge as of November 2009 • Flexible modular content which can be delivered to meet the learning needs of the candidates • What is Retail? • First impressions last • Personal effectiveness and teamwork • Effective customer service • How are you communicating? • Product knowledge • Effective selling skills • Health and safety • Security • Job search, assessment centres, on-line recruitment and interview techniques
Learners engaged in the programme Hard to reach and economically inactive through: • Flexible New Deal and New Deal • Skills 4 Jobs • ALR pilots with colleges and the NES • Young Person’s Guarantee • Response to Redundancy • Other local/regional PET programmes Delivered by experienced pre-employment training providers ideally with retail specialism • Train the trainer sessions available throughout 2010
Learner benefits • Fast-track through interview process* • Increased motivation and confidence • Better informed for interviews, assessment centres and online assessments • Are job ready and have a grounded knowledge of store operations • Aware of the career and progression routes available within the retail sector • Encourages improved retention • Progression to level two qualification *When linked to guaranteed interviews through LEP agreements or local arrangements
Training provider benefits • Training programme designed with the retail sector to address their recruitment needs • Programme specifically designed and proven to assist those with no experience of retail into sustainable employment within the sector • A training programme recognised by the retailers as a quality standard for potential interviewees • A tutor guide to support the delivery of the Retail Works candidate workbooks • Option of using materials to be accredited against Level 1 Award in Retail Knowledge • Opportunities to progress learners to a level 2 qualification
Employer benefits • Effective recruitment method that improves retention and reduces recruitment costs • Reduces time in sourcing and interviewing potential employees • Training programme designed specifically to meet their needs • Access to work ready learners • Potential £1000 for employing eligible JCP jobseekers • Progression to further training at L1 or 2 • Meets Corporate and Social Responsibilities targets Retailers employing Retail Works candidates include: Next, New Look, Lacoste, Monsoon, River Island, John Lewis, Waitrose, Asda, Primark, Morleys, Tesco, WH Smith, Sainsburys, Debenhams
Retail Works – progress to date • Retail Works is being delivered across the 4 nations • Retail Works is being used as the retail specific pre-employment training programme for retailers and regeneration developments e.g. Cardiff, Leicester, Bristol, White City, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield etc. • Evidence of higher job outcomes and sustainability when going through sector routeway • The LSC and JCP are promoting Retail Works as their sector routeway programme for retail through their PET contracts and LEP agreements
Retail Works Costs Candidate Workbook £15 each + VAT + P&P • Certificate of Completion Tutor Guide £40 + VAT • CD-ROM • Lesson Plans for each module • Task related resources to support the delivery of the candidate workbook
Gemma BehanSector Routeway MangerGemma.Behan@skillsmartretail.com07747 470904