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'University of John Lewis' to offer staff work-based degree scheme 'University of John Lewis' to offer staff work-based degree scheme
(5 months later)
John Lewis is planning to offer its staff the chance to study for "degrees" under a work-based scheme dubbed the "University of John Lewis".John Lewis is planning to offer its staff the chance to study for "degrees" under a work-based scheme dubbed the "University of John Lewis".
The staff-owned retailer said it would offer senior managers a level 6 vocational qualification, said to be equivalent to an honours degree, by the end of the year. The department store chain already offers a range of existing programmes leading to qualifications. Last year 1,330 John Lewis partners gained a retail diploma, with a third picking up a level 3 qualification, which is at a standard equivalent to A-levels.The staff-owned retailer said it would offer senior managers a level 6 vocational qualification, said to be equivalent to an honours degree, by the end of the year. The department store chain already offers a range of existing programmes leading to qualifications. Last year 1,330 John Lewis partners gained a retail diploma, with a third picking up a level 3 qualification, which is at a standard equivalent to A-levels.
John Lewis personnel director, Laura Whyte, said: "There is an old-fashioned view that retail doesn't offer people long-term career opportunities, but that is just no longer the case.John Lewis personnel director, Laura Whyte, said: "There is an old-fashioned view that retail doesn't offer people long-term career opportunities, but that is just no longer the case.
"Our partners give us our competitive edge, and if we want them to stay with us for the long term, we need to make sure that they have the right skills to meet the challenges we face in an evolving retail environment.""Our partners give us our competitive edge, and if we want them to stay with us for the long term, we need to make sure that they have the right skills to meet the challenges we face in an evolving retail environment."
There is a growing trend for workplace learning, with accountancy firms KPMG and PwC offering the chance to study for a degree while training. McDonald's and KFC run degrees in association with Manchester Metropolitan University and De Montfort University, respectively.There is a growing trend for workplace learning, with accountancy firms KPMG and PwC offering the chance to study for a degree while training. McDonald's and KFC run degrees in association with Manchester Metropolitan University and De Montfort University, respectively.
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