Advanced Skills Academy opens its doors in Hartlepool

A North East personal care distributor specialising in beauty and hair, Advanced Retail Solutions, is aiming to tackle high unemployment in the region with the launch of a new skills academy.

Advanced Skills Academy is set to open its doors to welcome the first cohort of learners on February 19, and will be delivered in partnership with Hartlepool College of Further Education and Job Centre Plus.

The free programme is dedicated to providing the essential skills required to establish a real stepping stone back into the world of employment.

The primary focus is to distill a range of core professional skills that will delivered over a four-week period within a live, fast-paced and dynamic business environment.

Each candidate will benefit from one-to-one professional development working alongside highly experienced, market leading, industry professionals across a multitude of disciplines.

Rob Collier, director of Advanced Retail Solutions, said: “We’re providing the ideal opportunity for those who are hungry for work and frustrated with the options bestowed upon them for change.

“We’re immensely passionate about supporting our local community and utilising our own success to provide a positive catalyst for change on a much wider scale.”

Advanced Retail Solutions is one of the UK’s largest distribution companies, working with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Unilever, Next Retail, Amazon, Wowcher and Groupon.

The company is said to provide a rich environment within which to learn and develop high level commercial skills.

Rob added: “Advanced Skills Academy are currently seeking the support and backing of like-minded regional businesses to help build a rich funnel of progression opportunities with a multitude of routes into direct employment or Apprenticeships.

“It’s an ideal extension to a standard internal recruitment process, providing vital insights into an individual’s performance in a live working environment, backed by trusted employer feedback.”