The 'Aspire2Accelerate' training programme, which has been developed as a joint investment with UDC, will comprise three higher education level qualifications targeted at all career stages from sales advisor through to area manager. Each completed phase of work-based learning will contribute credits towards the achievement of a full university degree in retail management. It will enable Aurora to create a visible career path for front line retail teams both within the brands and across the group, and importantly to identify and nurture a skilled talent pool ready for deployment into critical retail management roles.

Following a two-month national application process for the first level of the fast track programme, regional roll-out among successful candidates will commence throughout July, starting in London today.  It will see up to 150 learners from the Coast, Oasis and Warehouse brands participate in a year-long course, which is partly fulfilled via an e-learning portal, to gain a University Certificate in Retail Management.

In an industry sector renowned for high staff churn, Aurora hopes the scheme will help the brands to continue to attract and retain the best talent in fashion retailing; research* among Aurora store managers found 93% could easily identify a talented individual in their team who would be keen to undertake a work-based qualification with a view to developing a career in retail. It will also help strengthen management and succession planning across the group.

Julia Durbin, Aurora’s People and Organisational Development Director, said: “At a brand and a group level, we’re very proud of our heritage of investing in talent.  We’re fortunate enough to attract some of the best talent around but believe that, in order to keep and grow our people, we need to offer the opportunities afforded in other industries.”

Meg Lustman, Managing Director of Warehouse, added: “Against a backdrop of youth unemployment and significant industry job losses, we hope Aspire2Accelerate will inspire existing staff, and those considering entering the industry, to be ambitious about a long-term career in the fast paced world of fashion retail.”

Warehouse, like the other Aurora brands, deploys a number of talent initiatives already. For example, for the last four years, the brand has partnered with the British Fashion Council to find a promising new design student to join its annual graduate apprenticeship scheme.  This gives an up and coming new design talent the opportunity to participate in the development of a complete collection, and to showcase and sell their debut collection in Warehouse stores.