VE backs government apprenticeship boost bide

Vision Express has welcomed plans announced by the government last week (21 August) to increase the number of apprenticeships across England.

Last year Vision Express joined The 5% Club in which members pledge for 5% of its workforce to comprise of young people on structured training schemes over the next five years. The multiple introduced its 13-month long apprenticeship scheme 18 months ago, with its first intake completing the scheme in June. 

It confirmed that it currently has 79 apprentices working within its training scheme and is currently calling for applicants for its autumn intake. High demand saw over 3,000 applicants apply for a placement, which equates to, on average, 40 applicants per place. Those who pass the scheme qualifying with a Level 2, Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health (Optical Retail), which is equivalent to five GCSEs. 

Director of human resources at Vision Express, Kate Clayton, who joined the organisation as an apprentice herself, commented: "We strongly support the government’s commitment to further increasing the number and quality of apprenticeships available to young people. Our own apprenticeship programme has been vital in bringing bright new talent into our business. We value the opportunity to contribute our views as an employer on the detail of these plans."

See this video for more information on the experiences of Vision Express apprentices.