John Lewis to offer degree-equivalent vocational qualifications
John Lewis is to expand its range of internal vocational qualifications by introducing a degree-equivalent qualification aimed at staff in senior management roles.
The retailer will launch a pilot Level 6 vocational qualification by the end of the year as part of the ‘University of John Lewis’, a range of work-based qualifications designed to offer staff the chance to gain externally recognised qualifications. The new qualification will be in addition to the retailer’s existing qualification programme which allows staff to progress from entry-level qualifications up to Level 5.
The move follows the successful launch of John Lewis’s apprenticeship programme at the end of last year where young people can gain Level 2 or 3 vocational qualifications, the equivalent to GCSEs and A-levels respectively. The retailer offered 80 places on its Retail apprenticeship scheme in 2012.
Laura Whyte, John Lewis personnel director, explained: “There is an old-fashioned view that retail doesn’t offer people long-term career opportunities, but that is just no longer the case. Our Partners give us our competitive edge, and if we want them to stay with us for the long-term, we need to make sure that they have the right skills to meet the challenges we face in an evolving retail environment.
Never Miss a Retail Update!“The aspiration for the University of John Lewis is to provide choice to our workforce by matching them with the right level of qualification and help them achieve their career goals. We want Partners working at all levels of John Lewis, from selling assistants to branch managers, to have the opportunity to develop new skills and qualifications whilst still at work.”
As well as vocational qualifications, the ‘University of John Lewis’ offers a number of other training and development initiative through its Skills Programme, including product knowledge, line management, and leadership training. The retailer’s Leisure Learning programme also supports Partners in developing skills outside of their day-to-day roles, such as a foreign language.
