Holland & Barratt unveils apprentice scheme
Nuneaton-based health food retailer Holland & Barratt has pledged to create 1,000 apprentice positions within the company over 12 months.
The drive is part of the government-backed apprentice scheme which aims to get young unemployed people work experience.
Under the new scheme, unemployed people under 24-years-old will be able to spend eight weeks in the business gaining experience. Under previous rules, a maximum of two weeks was permitted before benefits were affected.
Holland & Barrett will provide 1,000 placements over a 12-month period at 250 of its UK stores. Thirty-one participating stores are based in the Midlands.
There will also be placements at the company's store support centre in Nuneaton and its packaging and manufacturing facility at Burton-upon-Trent.
Roger Craddock, Holland & Barrett's legal director, said: "It is a vicious circle for young people looking for work who are repeatedly told by employers they can’t take them on as they have no experience.
"What this new scheme means for us is that we can take on young people for a two month period who will walk away with more confidence and the awareness of the skills they can offer to employers. And I am sure many will prove to be great assets to our existing teams."
