The major high street retailer, the John Lewis Partnership, has announced plans to establish a ‘University of John Lewis’ as part of its expanding range of internal vocational qualifications for staff. The brand will pilot its first Level 6 vocational qualification – equivalent to a university honours degree – by the end of 2013. British businesses are increasingly developing training paths allowing their staff to get a degree that is externally recognised. (Ref. 130315)
John Lewis, employing some 84,700 staff across 39 John Lewis shops and 290 Waitrose supermarket stores. Currently, John Lewis provides internal existing vocational qualifications, which range from entry level to Level 5 courses, and the new initiative builds upon its own apprenticeship programme which was launched last year and gives staff the opportunity to study for a Level 2 or 3 qualification.
Do you have information to share with us?