Tesco calls for urgent reform to help create 8,000 new apprenticeships
Tesco has asked the Government to let it use the Apprenticeship Levy to teach people how to drive, among other changes to the system.
The supermarket, which is one of the biggest private employers in the UK, said that another 8,000 apprenticeships could be added if the Government makes changes to the scheme.
It called for up to £1 in every £10 of the levy’s funds to support “high quality pre-employment and pre-apprenticeship programmes”.
The same amount should also also be used to cover some of the costs of apprenticeships that are not directly training.
A new report commissioned by the company claims that Tesco not only employs 300,000 people in the UK, but supports a total of one million jobs and £53 billion in the economy.
Tesco chief executive, Ken Murphy, said: “This report shows that what we do as a business has an impact on everyone around us, not just our customers and colleagues, but also the local communities we operate in.
“It is fantastic to see the contribution of Tesco so far, but I know there is more we can do and we are absolutely ready to play our part as the UK rebuilds following the pandemic.
“There is a real opportunity here to boost jobs growth, after one of the most challenging years.
“What we’re asking for is simply the flexibility to use the Apprenticeship Levy to its full potential and give young people the valuable skills, training and experience that will translate into better opportunities in their careers.”
Tesco’s ambition is to increase the opportunities for young people to start their careers and build valuable skills. In the UK, one in five adults has worked in a supermarket at some point in their lives. For many, it’s an important steppingstone in their career and thanks to the vital work of supermarket colleagues during the pandemic, nearly 80% of the population consider them to be “key workers”.
