Retail jobs: Morrisons to take on 20,000 apprentices

More than 20,000 new retail jobs for apprentices will be created at Morrisons as part of the state-funded apprentice project.

The government launched National Apprenticeship week on Monday and has set £12.5m aside for the scheme which will award grants of up to £2,500 for each 16 or 17-year-old apprentice a company hires before 2020.

The grocer will offer new apprentices training in Bakery and Butchery and will provide Retail Skills which are roughly the equivalent of five good GCSEs.

Apart from Morrisons, numerous other companies will also participate in the scheme. Other companies include Crossrail who will take on 400 apprentices in the next year and B&Q who will take on 300 this September.

According to the Guardian, apprenticeships benefit both parties involved. A study compiled by the University of Warwick in 2008 found that those in apprentice jobs were 20-30pc more productive than colleagues who haven’t completed an apprenticeship.

Kevin Brennan, Apprenticeships Minister said: “In the last year we have seen a record increase in the number of people starting an apprenticeship. The benefits are clear and this week I am urging businesses and young people alike to take a close look at what they can gain from them.

“Skills will be key to the recovery of the UK economy and apprentices can be vital to businesses looking to innovate and grow.

"I am proud so many businesses are hiring apprentices already. Last year 143,000 people completed an apprenticeship, helping to give them the skills and experience they need to get on at work.”