Employer Success Stories

Working Nationwide with Tesco

We pride ourselves on the relationships we build with partner organisations, and are delighted to continue working in partnership with Tesco for a third year in 2007/08, delivering Key Skills at levels 1 and 2 in application of number and communication.

Between September 2007 and August 2008, YMCA Training helped 380 Tesco employees across 143 stores successfully achieve their Key Skills and Retail Certificate, complementing their in-house NVQ in Retail Skills (level 2) and ensuring timely completion of their full apprenticeship qualifications.

Our working partnership with Tesco began in September 2005. The first year’s 91 stores quickly grew to 118 for the second year of the partnership when the apprenticeship scheme opened up to employees aged over 25 for the first time.

We continue to receive positive feedback from across the country about our training programme. When last surveyed, 98% of trainees who responded said that they would recommend YMCA Training to a friend, with the same percentage of store managers recommending us to another employer. The achievers from this year now bring the total number of Tesco employees who have obtained their Key Skills through YMCA Training to just a few short of a thousand. And with over 350 stores already on-board for 2008/09, this number looks set to soar!

James Blair, who manages the Tesco project for the National Contracts team, said: “Each year, our relationship with Tesco strengthens as the numbers of participating stores and learners increase. The past 12 months were incredibly successful in terms of achievement rates and learner satisfaction, and we, as an ever-growing team, are delighted to once again be Tesco’s provider of choice for 2008/09. We look forward to helping a record number of Tesco employees to achieve their full potential.”

Lorna Bryson, Tesco’s head of UK resourcing, said: “YMCA has been delivering our Key Skills training since 2005 and is a welcomed partner to our apprenticeship team. Over the last four years, our learning needs have continually grown and YMCA Training has developed with us, continuing to deliver the high standard of learning and teaching we require for our programme.

We look forward to working in partnership with YMCA Training again this year with our biggest apprentice intake yet.”

Alex Errey currently works in the Petersfield store. Unfortunately, Alex barely attended school after year 8 due to a number of issues, primarily being the victim of bullying. As well as working part-time at the store, Alex helps to look after his grandmother and carries out youth work. He managed to successfully complete both of his Key Skills at level 2 in what his training adviser, Patricia Perry, described as “considerable style”.

Andrew Earthey is an assistant in the East Didsbury store. Andrew left school with no qualifications after years of ill health culminated in him needing a kidney transplant. Andrew’s training adviser, Christine Sterndale, commended Andrew on putting 100% into his Key Skills work, producing two excellent portfolios and comfortably passing his tests. Andrew’s personnel manager also commented on how his confidence has increased significantly since completing his apprenticeship, with him taking on much more responsibility within his role.

Sarah Eacott works in the Bordon store. She also left school with no qualifications but, with help from YMCA Training, has now completed her apprenticeship, producing two excellent portfolios for her level 1 Key Skills. She has since passed Tesco’s “Options” process for promotion, and been appointed the store’s services manager. Sarah is currently being considered for the role of assessor for future NVQ candidates.

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