Co-op to invest £21m in youth training

THE Co-operative Group has launched a £21m campaign to take on thousands of new apprentices.

The Manchester-based group which has interests in food, financial services and travel, said the drive is part of a commitment to inspire young people and support their future goals.

It is starting an Aprrenticeship Academy which will offer apprentices experience across the businesses and the opportunity to work towards a nationally recognised qualification.

It plans to offer 2,000 apprenticeships at a cost of £9m over two years and invest in education and youth schemes.

The group has already pledged to hire a large number of apprentices to work on the construction of its new £100m headquarters in Manchester which began last week.
 
The latest announcement comes six weeks before the Co-op opens its Co-operative Academy school in Manchester, which will specialise in business and finance.
 
Group chief executive Peter Marks said: “Sadly, as a society, we harbour a widespread negative attitude towards young people which doesn’t encourage or inspire them. We believe it is exactly these attitudes that need to change rather than the all too common view that young people have an attitude problem.”

He added: “While our work, through these commitments, will directly benefit 250,000 young people across the UK, we have set our sights far higher. In fact our vision is to help bring about a cultural shift in the way that young people are viewed and treated in this country.”