Vision Express has reported strong demand for a new apprenticeship programme that received 300 optical retail applicants in a first intake.
A winter recruitment phase for the scheme saw 20 placements secured, while further drafts in the coming year will see the business take on 60 more recruits.
Vision Express CEO Jonathan Lawson said: ‘Schemes of this kind are in high demand – impacted by the uncertainty of the UK economy and by an increasing number of young people opting for a skills route over traditional further and higher education.’
Training for the scheme commences next month, a statement confirmed, with the apprentices working towards a Level 2, Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health (Optical Retail), equivalent to five GCSEs.
The multiple has vowed to provide in-house assessor support and hands-on experience during the programme, which has its next intake in the spring.
Kate Clayton, new HR director at Vision Express, said: ‘We have developed a very competitive apprenticeship programme and are looking for individuals who have a passion for learning and providing excellent customer service.’
Vision Express last year joined The 5% Club (08.11.13) when it pledged to have 5 per cent of its UK workforce comprising young people on structured training schemes over the next five years. It has already reached 3 per cent.
Lawson added: ‘With nearly one million 16-24 year olds unemployed and only one in 10 young people joining an apprenticeship scheme when they leave school, we are delighted to offer this national skills and training opportunity and in doing so help to boost the UK’s growth agenda.’
