RETAIL ENTERPRISE SUPPORTS STUDENTS’ GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Hardworking students from the region have been working in intu Eldon Square to achieve gold standard qualifications in business and retail. Students from schools throughout the region celebrated their success at a presentation ceremony held at Tyneside Cinema, attended by The Mayor of Gateshead, Cllr Jack Graham, and Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central. World Class Retail Gold is building on the success of the nationally acclaimed extended schools’ work experience programme Retail Gold, delivered by Newcastle Education Business Partnership in association with intu Properties, owners of intu Eldon Square, since 2005. Launched in the North East in 2005, The Retail Gold programme has enabled Year 12 students on a one-year BTEC First Retail course to access real hands-on experience, with retail placements in two of the busiest shopping centres in the UK . The young people have been able to combine their school-based studies with the practical skills developed during their time learning ‘for real’ by participating in extended work placement programmes with successful local retailers. Since 2005, Retail Gold has placed 200 students with 20 different retailers at intu Eldon Square, and they learn what work is really like, but do so in an environment that is supportive and professional. The programme enables young people to develop essential employability skills, raise self-confidence and gain a thorough insight into all aspects of working in retail. During the academic year 2013/14, students from four Newcastle Schools, Sacred Heart School, Gosforth Academy, Excelsior Academy and All Saints CE College, and Blaydon’s St Thomas More Catholic School, have attended weekly work placements at John Lewis and Debenhams at intu Eldon Square. Students have also been placed within the intu Customer Services Teams, and have enjoyed exactly the same level of World Class Training as all intu staff receive throughout the UK. 17 year old Marcella Connelly, a student at St Thomas More Catholic School , who has been placed at House of Fraser at intu Metrocentre, has been offered a 10 hour weekly contract at the store, following her Retail Gold placement Marcella said “This has been such a worthwhile experience, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time participating in the Retail Gold training programme, and it’s great to now have the opportunity to do a part-time job and have my own money to spend! I love fashion and my mentors believe I have a real ‘feel’ for retail. I know my confidence has grown while on placement, and this has been a real opportunity to get my foot in the door to the world of work, and something I can do while studying for my A levels next year.” Tracy Allison, Management Consultant, Employers in Education, added: “World Class Retail Gold is actually responding directly to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Report “Better skills, better jobs, better lives” that shows, if managed well, the workplace can be an excellent environment for young people to develop the skills they need – and that employers want – as part of the transition to the world of work. Compared to curricula designed entirely by educators and taught exclusively in schools, learning in the workplace allows young people to develop ‘hard’ skills on modern equipment, and ‘soft’ skills, such as teamwork, communication and negotiation, through real-world experience. Building workplace experience into educational programmes also provides an important channel of feedback from the labour market to education providers about what skills are in demand. These benefits of workplace learning to promote employability apply whether young people are pursuing a vocational/professional pathway or following a more general/academic route.” Alexander Nicoll, Director of Corporate Responsibility, intu Properties, commented: “intu Eldon Square is a compelling retail and leisure destination and much of the ‘experience’ for customers arises from the quality of service received. We know that a high percentage of entrants into retail are under 25 and that it is increasingly difficult for young people to start their working life without qualifications and work experience. intu’s work with Retail Gold continues to support young people from all over the region and we are delighted to be able to build on this success with the launch of  World Class Retail Gold, which sees participants benefiting directly from the World Class Service  training provided to all  intu employees. This enhanced programme sees intu once again at the forefront of engagement with communities in the North East to promote skills, training and pathways to real and rewarding jobs. Andrew Hodgson, North East LEP board member with responsibility for skills development, said: “The single most important thing that will add value to the region or to an individual is increasing skill levels. We are working closely with local employers to create and strengthen a workforce with skills clearly linked to the North East economy and its key sectors. Retail is an important regional sector, and we welcome Employers in Education and intu’s initiative in launching World Class Retail Gold, and highlighting the importance of customer service to young people. Programmes such as this help to drive regional growth by developing the capabilities of future skilled employees, trained and working in the North East." Phil Steele, General Manger of intu Eldon Square , commented: “This long term partnership between intu retailers and schools has now been further refined and will certainly enhance the Retail Gold project, going forward.We are delighted to be working with Tracy Allison from Employers in Education who is leading this project to deliver business and retail education in our local schools. Schools report that participation in extended work experience raises pupils’ aspirations and self-confidence, demonstrating the relevance of what is being taught in school and therefore encourages and improves school attendance. These important skills are of course not only relevant in the world of retail, but transferable to any area of work.”