Twenty Excelsior Academy students are revelling in their roles working on placements with some of the biggest retail names on the UK high street.
The pupils from the Newcastle school’s sixth form Excelsior College, are working with intu, the real estate company which owns some of the UK’s best known shopping centres – including the Metrocentre and Eldon Square, which attract more than 400m customer visits each year.
Excelsior’s Year 12 and 13 retail students are learning valuable employment skills on their Retail Gold work placements as assistants at John Lewis, Debenhams, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, WH Smith and with intu customer service.
The placements in Eldon Square and the Metrocentre are part of their sixth form BTEC retail qualification. Intu is supporting Excelsior College in a long-term initiative to deliver quality, fulfilling and supported work placements as part of the Retail Gold programme.
More than 40 Excelsior students studying a retail qualification in recent years have gained top quality employability skills and experience working in the retail sector.
Tim Coid, of Waitrose in Eldon Square, said: “The Retail Gold programme offers students an insight into the world of retailing.
“The valuable training and knowledge gained by Excelsior Academy students enables them to make possible career choices at an early age.
“As an active supporter of the Retail Gold programme, our business can only benefit from inspiring young students to enter the growing retail sector.”
All of the Excelsior students are working in a retail assistant capacity apart from one who is a customer service advisor for intu.
Peter Stead, Excelsior Retail Teacher, said: “Students commencing this year’s Retail Gold programme should be commended for the hard work and application they demonstrated when preparing for their work placement interviews.
“All 20 students successfully gained a work placement and all have made an excellent first impression during their induction.
“Their work placement opportunity will support them if they wish to access apprenticeships or paid employment opportunities in future so that their skills and experience standout at interview.”