Business school offers ‘Morrisons degree’

MORRISONS is offering staff the chance to complete a specially designed degree in supermarket logistics in a partnership with the Hull University Business School.

The move is a response to the increasingly complex nature of the logistics operations that underpin modern retailing and comes as Morrisons prepares to add online shopping to its established bricks-and-mortar offering.

Morrisons is expected to launch its wine website Morrisons Cellar later in the autumn as it looks to grow wine sales to £100m in the next three years.

The Logistics Institute at Hull University Business School has designed the foundation degree in partnership with Morrisons which will put 100 staff through the course.

Nathan Clements, human resources director for manufacturing and logistics at Morrisons, said: ‘Efficiently moving food to our stores and customers – come rain or shine or even snow – is one of the most vital parts of any supermarket business.

“This degree programme will ensure that we can develop the best managers for the weekly challenge of managing a supply chain that serves 11.5 million customers every week.”

The degree will be taught in modules allowing staff to learn without disrupting their work with some of the course delivered at Morrisons sites.

Supervisors looking to become managers will be the focus for the foundation degree with the first group graduating in 2014.

Professor David Grant, director of the Logistics Institute, said: ‘We are delighted that Morrisons has chosen us to deliver on this programme.

“The Logistics Institute has worked hard to ensure that the programme is challenging but balanced, with plenty of support for students and good progression routes to a full degree should the students wish to continue.

“It is our belief that the chosen students will learn and progress rapidly on the programme and become a real asset to the Morrisons brand in the future.”