Vision Express offers full time roles to first wave of apprenticeship graduates
Vision Express has announced that the first graduates from its apprenticeship programme have all been offered full time jobs at the optical retail chain.
The 13-month employee-embedded scheme, which has received nearly 3,000 applications to date, accepted its first recruits in February 2014.
Every apprentice successfully completing the scheme has been offered a full time, permanent post as an optical assistant within Vision Express. They have qualified with a Level 2, Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health (Optical Retail), which is equivalent to five GCSEs.
Nineteen year-old Henry Wye is one of the scheme’s success stories. He secured a place on the programme after becoming disillusioned by further education and will complete his apprenticeship at the Westfield White City Vision Express store later this month.
Wye explained: “I felt frustrated and constrained in college, so I hoped an apprenticeship would be a better route for me than further education. I was ambitious and wanted to start myself on a career path where I could progress into a management role. The scheme has given me lots of opportunities, and I’ve picked up skills that I wouldn’t have developed had I stayed at college.”
Last year Vision Express joined The 5% Club and pledged to have 5% of its UK workforce comprising of young people on structured training schemes over the next five years.
Kate Clayton, human resources director, said: “We’ve received an average of 40 applicants per position, which is a measure of just how much demand exists for a structured apprenticeship scheme, with a growing company that can offer unique and diverse career potential. We’re delighted that the feedback from our first graduates is so positive and that we’re in the position to retain their skills within the company. We wish them continued success with their future progression.”
A total of 67 apprentices have been placed at Vision Express since the scheme launched. The first intake will celebrate its successful completion of the scheme at an official graduation ceremony in June 2015.
The next apprenticeship intake starts in the spring with applications now open.
