Government and retailers team up to combat skills shortages

An
employer-led initiative has been launched to combat the skills shortages in the
retail sector.

Retailers
are teaming up with the Government to help 50,000 long-term unemployed and lone
parents into retail jobs over the next three years.

The
initiative will offer customised training in customer service, IT, sales and
marketing, claimed the Government.

Education
and employment minister David Blunkett said, “We see this as a major
opportunity to work with retail businesses to help them solve their recruitment
and skills problems.”

The major
retailers backing the scheme include HMV, Dixons, French Connection, John Lewis
and Safeway.

www.dfee.gov.uk

By Karen Higginbottom. Click here to
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