Morrisons offers fee lifeline to 1,000 students

The Bradford-based chain is targeting A-level students with the scheme, which it said will give 18- to 24-year-olds valuable experience in food retailing and management education, without the need to rack up student debts.

Morrisons aims to enrol 1,000 students into the scheme – which could prove tempting to those put off by rising fees – over the next 18 months, with the first 100 starting in the autumn.

Morrisons’ human resources director Norman Pickavance said: “This is an opportunity for young people who have the right drive and attitude to develop to senior management levels in the company and is also part of our wider philosophy of bringing the best out of all our people. It offers a genuine alternative to self-funded university qualifications.” The Yorkshire Post understands the 1,000-strong intake will be repeated annually, making it one of the UK biggest school-leaver recruitment schemes in the UK.

Called the Morrisons Futures Programme, it will be open to students who achieved at least two Bs and a C at A-level.

Candidates will get the chance to study for a foundation degree in retail management from Bradford University’s School of Management, lasting up to three years.

Education and training will be provided at centres across the UK, and will also include eight hours a week of home study. Mixing work and teaching, candidates will first be expected “get their hands dirty” by working full-time in one of the chain’s 459 stores for six months, before embarking on the degree.

A block learning course and periods of study will be followed by periods of work.

Successful candidates will receive a starting salary of about £12,000, but with the potential of progress to store manager in seven years.

A spokesman said there would be no obligation for staff to remain with the group once they have completed the course.

The Futures scheme is expected to cost Morrisons roughly £4m.

“Morrisons is making the investment to support its expansion plans and boost the company’s talent pipeline,” said the group. “Morrisons has a tradition of growing its own managers from the shop floor to the top floor.”

Last year the supermarket promoted Mark Harrison and Martyn Fletcher to its management board. Mr Harrison, the retail director and Mr Fletcher, the manufacturing director, both started their careers with the company when they were 17.

A spokesman added: “We wanted to give people a route into education which they can do without racking up enormous debts that come with a lot of education these days.

“We like to gain talented young people and get them to learn with their hands and their heads.”

Last year the supermarket launched a pilot degree scheme, also with Bradford University, which saw 20 young people embark on a BSc in Business and Management, while working in its manufacturing division.

Around one million people in Britain who are aged under 25 work in retail.