CorpComms Magazine

Supermarket J Sainsbury has become the latest company to offer nationally recognised qualifications to all 150,000 employees as part of its new 'You Can' scheme.

The scheme, which was launched this month, includes a raft of programmes aimed at helping people back into the workplace and offering existing staff support, training and skills necessary to succeed.

Sainsbury's has set a five-year target for 25 per cent of all staff to have a nationally recognised qualification, and offers two training programmes to suit all needs. Both programmes are accredited by EDI, a specialist in employer led qualifications.

The Level 1 numeracy or literacy qualification supports employees who wish to brush up on their maths and English skills. The qualification is equivalent to one GSCE at grade D and is called 'Skills for Life'.

Recent research has identified that a lack of confidence is the biggest barrier to learning. As a result, training for Level 1 qualifications is available to staff on a confidential basis and can be undertaken without the involvement of line managers or peers.

Staff who wish to embark on the qualification must notify human resources and, following an assessment, will receive password details allowing them to logo onto the web based training at any time and proceed at their own pace. A dedicated online tutor is available to every student who enrols. The first 2,000 employees to complete the Level 1 qualification will receive a £50 voucher.

Sainsbury's is also the first retailer to offer every colleague the opportunity to achieve a NVQ Level 2 qualification, equivalent to five GCSEs at grade C or above. This qualification recognises 'on the job' training, meaning that compulsory training programmes such as stock control, visual merchandising and health and training, will count towards the final marks.

The supermarket group is also the only retailer to offer three craft apprenticeships, for bakers, fishmongers and butchers, which count towards an NVQ Level 2 qualification.

The Skills for Life National Needs and Impact Survey of Literacy, Numeracy and IT skills, published in October 2003, estimated that, in England, 5.2m adults aged 16-65 have literacy skills equivalent to an English GCSE at grades D-G, while 6.8m have the numeracy skills expected of an 11 year old.

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