Following its success last year, the employment course for young people has been launched again for 2015 by retail industry charity Retail Trust.
Retail Right is a 10-week pre-employment course, designed to prepare some of the 954,000 unemployed 16-24 year-olds in the UK for a rewarding career in the retail industry.

Through a mixture of classroom-based training and practical work experience with leading retailers, Retail Right aims to allow individuals the opportunity to gain the right skills and the right experience to naturally progress into employment within the retail industry.

During their training, young individuals will learn about the retail industry and the skills necessary for this sector, and will then be able to put their newly developed skills into practice, with the opportunity to complete a work placement with leading retail brands, including Clarks, Pets at Home, Matalan and House of Fraser.

Coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week, Retail Right has been launched in Bradford and Hull so far, with further openings set across the UK throughout 2015.

By launching the scheme in areas where youth unemployment is high and apprenticeship schemes are most in need, Retail Right hopes to challenge negative statistics on youth employment. The programme works in conjunction with local providers, in order to reach out to young people at the grassroots level, and guide them on to a thriving career path.

Retail Right has seen great success since its pilot launch in 2014, with many of its alumni being offered full-time employment, or leaving the traineeship as well-rounded, well-trained individuals ready for the workplace, armed with an excellent reference from a leading retailer.

The 2015 programme aims to place a further 1,000 young people across 20 locations in the UK. It also hopes to create over 350 employment outcomes within the retail sector, allowing more young people to secure a fantastic future working in the retail industry.

Retail Trust vocational development coordinator Amy Prendergast said: "Retail Right is a unique programme that is reaching out to the grassroots and helping young people gain vital experience in our industry, with many moving into full time employment as a result of coming onto the programme."