Retailers join forces for National Skills Academy Launch

Senior retailers from companies including Kingfisher, Sainsbury's and the John Lewis Partnership have put their support behind the National Skills Academy for Retail.

JLP chairman Charlie Mayfield, Kingfisher group chief executive Ian Cheshire and Lord Young, Minister for Skills, spoke at a launch event last night (29 April) to announce the launch of the first 18 skills shops to join the training network, which is planned to become the biggest retail training network ever established in the UK. The initiative is seeking to establish recognised, transferable skills for retails staff.

"Creating a truly employer-led skills framework is an important ingredient for the future success of the UK economy. The establishment of the National Skills Academy for Retail is a significant step towards that goal," says Mayfield. "It is also a milestone for our sector. For the first time, there will be a quality assured network of retail skills shops, providing consistent, high-quality training and advice to develop skills, improve efficiency and drive productivity."

"The National Skills Academy for Retail is set to be a valuable resource for the retail industry," adds Cheshire. "By working together at a national level through the network of skills shops, we can raise the skill levels of our employees and awareness of the many opportunities in retail among our future workforce."

Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King and Ryman Stationery chairman and Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis were also present at the launch.