BRC & Skillsmart offer support to raise retail skills

31 Jan '08

3 min read

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Skillsmart Retail have offered their combined support for the Government's renewed pledge to increase skills in the workplace.

The two organisations welcomed Government plans to increase Apprenticeship numbers and encourage businesses to offer accredited training.

Jane Milne, Director of Business Environment at the BRC, said “Members of the BRC provide a variety of excellent training opportunities and we hope to see more offering accredited training in future.

“In the past generic vocational qualifications didn't deliver the core competencies that employers require and, in response, employers have developed bespoke training packages.

Accrediting these in-house programmes results in more relevant qualifications and gives businesses the recognition they deserve for investing in skills.”

Anne Seaman, CEO of Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for Retail, said: “We welcome any moves by the Government to encourage skills development in the sector.

“Employers' formal accreditation of their training is an important part of raising skill levels and we commend the commitment to expand and strengthen the Apprenticeship programme in England.

“These moves have clear links with the qualifications and Apprenticeship strategies for retail which aim to increase uptake by driving up the quality of delivery of these programmes.”

However, the two groups are keen to ensurethe plans are appropriate for the sector.

More British Retail Consortium News... More Textiles News - United Kingdom...