Associated Strategies - Retail Academy

The formation of a Retail Academy to help local people grasp job opportunities in a rejuvenated Walsall town centre has been recognised as an innovative approach to recruitment.

Jobcentre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council, Walsall College and Walsall Council worked with representatives of ASDA, the local community and other organisations, with WRC hosting and guiding the initiative.

The result was special training and advice sessions to help people to apply for the 500 jobs at the ASDA store and to prepare them for interviews. Practical assistance included form filling techniques, identifying their skills and handling group interviews. Those not chosen this time gained confidence and skills to help with future applications.

Walsall Council also looked at how public transport links and timetables could be changed to tie-in with shift patterns for the store to support local people to access jobs.

ASDA store manager Jon Clements said: “The co-operation and assistance given to us to find local people to work in our new store has been absolutely fantastic. We have been made to feel really welcome in Walsall.”