Training provider NCG joins Morrisons in apprenticeship scheme

Training and education provider, NCG will join forces with Morrisons to develop the supermarket’s apprenticeship programme.

NCG, which has several divisions in the North East, has been chosen by Wm Morrison Supermarkets to develop the Morrisons Academy Apprenticeship and qualifications programme.

It plans to extend the scheme to include online learning and advanced level courses to potential high flyers who could go on to leadership positions in the country’s 4th largest supermarket chain, which has 490 stores across the UK.

NCG, is made up of five divisions, Newcastle College, West Lancashire College, the Intraining Group, Rathbone and Newcastle Sixth Form College.

From August the not-for-profit organisation will work with Morrisons to deliver fully accredited and recognised Apprenticeships in subjects such as Business & Administration, Retail, Warehousing & Storage and Customer Service across all divisions including Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics & Supply Chain, Convenience, Central, Online & Kiddicare.

Training facilities will include the latest on-line technology such as NCG’s Virtual Learning Environment which includes a virtual classroom, video conferencing, on-line forums and course blogs.

Morrisons is expected to train around 10,000 apprentices each year through the Academy, which will take between 12 and 24 months to complete, with more than half focused on 16-24 year olds.

The contract will be managed by the Intraining division which works with more than 20,000 businesses and trains 54,000 learners every year, including up to 20,000 apprentices.

Mickey Greenhalgh, Morrisons’ Head of Craft & Functional Skills said: “We completed a tender of our Academy Apprenticeship programme, to ensure it continues to best support the development of our colleagues.

“I’m delighted that we’ll be working with NCG over the coming years to equip our people with the skills they need to deliver great service to our customers.

“The programme’s ambition is to develop our internal talent and will equip many of our shopfloor colleagues for a move into management and beyond.”

NCG is one of the largest education and training providers working with 100,000 learners every year at 45 locations nationwide.

Dame Jackie Fisher, Chief Executive, NCG said: “Developing people through learning is at the heart of everything we do.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Morrisons on such an innovative learning programme.

“We will use our expertise of working each year with 20,000 young people aged 18 or less to ensure young employees are quickly engaged and inspired to take part in learning.

“NCG is committed to developing high quality training and we intend to add to the Morrisons Academy to train the managers of the future so they can go from the shop floor to the ‘top floor’.

“As a not for profit organisation we understand the importance of making every penny count and have created a model that ensures funding will be reinvested into learners.”

The National Apprenticeship Service also worked closely with Morrisons to help them design their Apprenticeship programme.

David Way, Executive Director, National Apprenticeship Service said: “I am very pleased that Morrisons is ready to continue their investment in Apprenticeships and are giving opportunities to many young people to begin their careers in retail.

“This commitment from Morrisons shows the importance that leading employers are placing on Apprenticeships to drive their businesses forward.”