The group says that this has been expended on training 24 308 people in its own retail readiness programme, providing 1 027 bursaries and training 5 765 young people (over the past three years) in the Youth Employment Service programme.

All of these initiatives are aimed at training and upskilling people not previously employed by the group and are focused on helping unemployed youth gain the skills they need to secure jobs in the retail industry, says Shoprite.

As the country's largest private-sector employer, the group says that skills development drives its own business and the economy and can transform the lives of many of its employees and job-seeking young people.

The Retail Readiness Programme, which is understood to be the largest and most successful skills development initiative undertaken by a South African retailer, comprises five weeks of practical training in stores and two weeks of theoretical training to provide youth with the basic skills to work in a retail environment or start their own business. Successful participants receive NQF-level 3 qualifications.

Through the Youth Employment Service programme, a business-driven initiative that works together with government and labour to build economic pathways for black youth to reduce unemployment, the group has created 5 765 youth work opportunities, making it the highest impact employment creator in the programme.

Youth Employment Service participants receive on-the-job training at in-store service departments, like the bakery, deli and the fresh foods department.

Upon successful completion of the Retail Readiness and Youth Employment Service programmes, learners are offered the opportunity to join the Shoprite Group, but it is up to graduates to decide if they want to do so. Absorption rates are 53% from the Retail Readiness Programme and 32% from the Youth Employment Service programme, excluding current participants.

The group says that it follows a 'from school to Shoprite' approach for young people, who may either study on a Shoprite bursary and then join the business or join the Retail Readiness or Youth Employment Service programmes straight out of school.

Skills development does not stop there, as there are numerous in-house and external programmes in place to upskill the its 140 000 employees, adds Shoprite. These include:
  • learnerships
  • skills programmes
  • internships
  • bursaries for tertiary education, and
  • partnerships with TVET colleges.
Accredited programmes are run by Shoprite at its Retail Varsity, a registered private further education and training college. Individuals are encouraged to click here for further details. 

For more information, visit www.shoprite.co.za. You can also follow the Shoprite Group on Facebook or on Twitter