Fashion Retail Academy acquires London College of Beauty Therapy and announces new Group structure
19th March 2024
News
Success Story
Harrods Retail Academy in partnership with EFI Training
Harrods, the world’s most famous department store, established its Retail Academy in 2012 before partnering with EFI Training (then as part of the Fashion Retail Academy) in 2017 and converting to apprenticeships.
Relying on the industry expertise of the EFI Training team has helped Harrods create a high-performing talent pipeline to feed into its store management and buying and merchandising functions.
Programmes available include Level 3 Retail Team Leader, from which apprentices can graduate onto the Level 4 Retail Manager apprenticeship, and Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant, which leads on to the Level 6 Assistant Buyer or Assistant Merchandiser programme.
KEY FACTS
7
years as an apprenticeship partner
127
apprentices over 9 intakes
100%
pass rate across all programmes
42
graduates have progressed internally
90.6%
of Level 3 Retail Team Leader graduates achieved a merit or distinction grade
Benefits
- Unrivalled awareness of business functions and systems from across different areas
- Apprentices offer new insight and innovative solutions to departmental challenges
- Ambitious and opportunity-seeking future talent
- Progression to permanent roles in Personal Shopping, Buying, Merchandising and Store Management
- Making best use of Apprenticeship Levy to fund talent development
- Focussing on practical application of learning within the workplace
- Opportunities for development, particularly in cases where promotion isn’t viable
How it works
Harrods apprentices complete one fashion and one non-fashion department placement, each covering six months and a peak trading period. After 12 months, they return to their original department to complete End-Point Assessment.
Historically, all apprentices have been external hires, and this helps Harrods attract and retain a range of enthusiastic new talent from diverse backgrounds.
Through a mix of taught sessions, progress reviews and assignments set by EFI Training, the apprentices have the opportunity to deepen their skillset whilst building a peer network and having the support of their cohort as they progress through the programme.
The Harrods Retail Academy programmes are supported by a dedicated programme manager from the EFI Training team, who coordinates the learning requirement. The 20% off-the-job learning requirement has the full backing of senior Harrods stakeholders to ensure apprentices get the most out of the programme. In addition, a learning mentor from Harrods' Learning & Development team offers additional one-to-one coaching and support.
WHAT THEY SAY
We are looking to take a few more people onto our Retail Academy programme this year, so whether that's scaling our existing programmes or bringing in new standards, we're really excited to continue collaborating with [EFI Training].
Cozette Leese-Smith
Talent Development Manager at Harrods
PROGRAMMES
MORE NEWS & SUCCESS STORIES
They strive to encourage our learners to excel, and I am proud to say we have achieved fantastic apprenticeship results over the past 5 years
Talent Development Team, Harrods