Halfords has announced its intention to employ 600 new trainees in 2016, a scheme largely aimed at the unemployed youth.
The eight week long placements will be on offer for 16 to 24 year-olds who are out of employment and education. The retailer will train its new recruits in store across the UK to prepare them for work.
Following Halfords‘ return to growth in its third quarter results announced last month, the UK‘s biggest bicycle trader has gained greater momentum to expand its workforce.
“We wanted to go above and beyond the usual apprenticeship model, and by offering
pre-employment training to our candidates, we’re raising the bar for training in the retail industry,” said Halfords’ People Director Jonathan Crookall.
“We will train 600 trainees across Halfords in the next year and see huge potential for the programme in preparing young people for work and a bright new talent into the industry.”
“At a time when we have record employment in the UK, traineeships not only provide life changing opportunities for young people, but they also deliver brilliant results for business,” commented Priti Patel, Employment Minister.
“This is why it is great to see a major retailer like Halfords make a real commitment to traineeships by not only running the programme, but increasing the number of places it has offered.”
