retail matters 6th edition

Retail MattersISSUE SIX FEBRUARY 20

14

Sheffield City Region - Retail Hub of the North...

In this issue:Retail Matters Conference

Retail in Derbyshire Dales

The New Moor Market open for business

‘The best market in Britain’

Retail markets thriving across the SheffieldCity Region

National Apprenticeship Week 2014

Sheffield City Region - Retail Hub of the North...

RM_Issue6_January2014_Layout 1 27/01/2014 13:43

Welcome…...to Retail Matters

Retail Matters Conference - 19th March 2014

This edition of Retail Matters delves more deeply into some of the stories behind the diverserange of markets across the Sheffield City Region, focusing particularly on the new £18 millionMoor Market in Sheffield which opened to such a rapturous reception in December 2013.

It is now widely recognised that markets playa vital role in supporting the UK economy.The 95,000 people who are directlyemployed in the UK’s 1,124 retail marketsgenerate an annual turnover of £3.5 billion peryear1 and market places also provideopportunities for start up businesses andinnovation.

Markets have played a formative role increating many of today’s multi-nationalretailers including TESCO, Marks & Spencerand Morrisons2. Many markets across the UK,Sheffield included, have outperformed theHigh Street during the recession3, and Iattribute this growth in part to the excellentcustomer service provided by tradersrightfully passionate about their businesses.

Yet there is perhaps slightly less awareness ofthe extent to which markets can transcendpurely economic benefits and contribute tothe social and environmental wellbeing of thenation. Markets help to ensure localcommunities have access to affordablehealthy food, with the most recent NMTFShopping Basket Survey showing that marketswere 32% cheaper than supermarkets on freshproduce4, and also provide a place to learnabout healthy eating and cooking. Morefundamentally, markets help to define aregion’s cultural heritage and provide a senseof place, with the Joseph RowntreeFoundation noting that markets areparticularly important sites of social

interaction for older people, and that tradersplay a significant role in creating a vibrantatmosphere within UK market towns5.

Despite this overwhelmingly positive pictureat a national level, the performance ofmarkets at a regional level in the UK hasvaried greatly during the last few years. I amdelighted to say that the Sheffield CityRegion’s markets are performing splendidly,thanks to a combination of investment,innovation and hard work from markettraders, local councils and wider stakeholders.I think this edition of Retail Matters gets tothe heart of why our markets are soimportant to the wellbeing of the SheffieldCity Region, and I very much hope that youenjoy reading it.

I will look forward to seeing you at our nextRetail Matters Conference in March.

Ann CadmanVice Chair of the Sheffield City Region RetailForum and Director of The Source SkillsAcademy.

The Sheffield City Region Retail Forum is inviting organisations across the Sheffield City Region to attend a freeretail conference and networking event entitled ‘Retail Matters: Increasing sales and business growth througheffective and innovative marketing’.

The conference will be held on Wednesday19th March from 1.30pm until 4.00pm at TheSource Skills Academy, 300 Meadowhall Way,Sheffield, S9 1EA. Speakers will include;

Will Holman Bank of EnglandMark Shevill Batting 4 6Steve Harrison Deli & DineKatrina Bagshaw Bauer Media GroupSurriya Falconer MK PR

The last Retail Matters Conference attractedover 100 delegates, 96% of whom rated thequality of the event, speakers and networkingopportunities as good or excellent.

‘The Retail Matters Conferences

are informative and inspiring’

Kate Shepherd, owner of Cocoa Wonderland.

If you are interested in advertising in Retail Matters or submitting an editorial feature, please contact us for further information.

Contacts - Martin Howard - t: 0114 265 6655 e: [email protected]

Sheffield City RegionRetail Hub of the North...

1-3 Market Alliance (2009) Markets 21: A Policy and Research Review ofUK Retail and Wholesale Markets in the 21st Century

4 National Market Traders’ Federation (2008) Shopping BasketResearch: London, Birmingham and Sheffield.

5 Watson, S. et al (2006) Markets as sites for social interaction Spacesof diversity. Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

To book your Conference place contact Emily Wright today on [email protected] or 0114 263 6656.

02


Brave decisions paying off at the new Moor Market

Retail developments in the Derbyshire Dales district

Our decision to relocate the markets inSheffield to The Moor is often referred to as abrave decision, but I am pleased to say that it isused without any sense of irony. The decisionto move the markets to The Moor was a brave,bold and positive decision taken by the Councilwith the market traders. The evidence from thefirst few weeks trading at the new marketwould suggest that it was a successful decisiontoo.

So what has worked? Well, quite simply,showing strong faith in the role of retailmarkets in an emerging digital world clearly hasgiven everything a boost. My own view,particularly in retail, is that we shouldn’t haveconversations about the high street versusdigital but conversations of the high streetwith digital. However, notwithstanding that,good retail markets often provide an antidotein the sometimes impersonalised world of thecorporate and digital.

What also has worked is the fact that themarkets are in a good and well designed

building, which celebrates the markets and is inits own terms a demonstration of faith. Markettraders have also risen to the occasion. Theyare always a bunch of characters, and it doesn’ttake much for them to show their personalitybut they have done that enormously in the newmarkets. There is a spring in their step whichputs a spring in everybody else’s mood as well.

And the shoppers have come. We decided toput the markets in a good location – I havealways wondered why sometimes ventures thatwe all want to succeed are put in difficultlocations to act as pioneers. If you want themto succeed, then put them in successful places!However, not only have they succeededbecause they are in a good location but theyhave boosted that location with consistent andsignificant increases in footfall.

So, does everybody win? Well actually and sofar, yes they have. More shoppers, happiertraders, a Council that is covering its costs anda part of the Sheffield City Centre that isseeing a lot more people now not just looking

but buying. My simple reflection on all this, isthat if you want a venture to succeed then giveit every chance to do so. Attending to everydetail is crucial, as shopping is as much aboutthe experience as the purchase. Be bold andbrave and invest in quality, and lastly – don’tgive up on high street retail. It is successful.

We have ambitious plans for the generation ofhigh-wage, high-skill jobs, to enhance theprosperity of our four market towns,Ashbourne, Bakewell, Matlock and Wirksworth.The District Council is alive to the fact thatchanging shopping habits mean our towncentres need support if they are to survive andthrive, and are currently examining options forthe potential redevelopment of Bakewell Road,an important part of Matlock town centre.

Half of the Derbyshire Dales is in the PeakDistrict National Park, and we are immenselyproud that our Agricultural Business Centre inBakewell has become the hub of the local ruraleconomy, hosting weekly livestock markets andthe second largest farmers' market in the UK.Bakewell's Monday stall market dates back to1330 and the District Council is delighted toensure it remains a success story. We alsooperate traditional outdoor stall markets inAshbourne and Wirksworth and welcome thelocal Town Team’s tentative plans to reinvent aweekly outdoor market in Matlock.

It may surprise readers to discover that whiletourism is important to us, it is actually arelatively small part of the Dales economy andwe are keen not to be portrayed simply as "atourist area". Our main economic sectorsinclude manufacturing, retail and the publicsector, which together make up 65% of Dalesemployment. So while this beautiful area ofthe UK attracts 6.9 million visitors a year and aspend of £296 million, accommodation andfood services account for only 9% ofDerbyshire Dales jobs.

The District Council created a new stimulus forthe local economy in 2011 with the opening ofArc Leisure Matlock, a new £12m leisure centrewith pools and sports halls on a remediatedsite. But while Arc has been a tremendoussuccess, with almost one million visitors todate, the squeeze on local government financesmeans we won't see any capital investments ofthis scale in the coming years. So we arecommitted to working hard to secure externalfunding such as the £51 million in new housinginvestment that has enabled more than 1,000

new affordable homes for local people since2002. We make no apology for making anuisance of ourselves in fighting to support andgrow an economy that is dominated by microbusinesses (91% of local firms have under 10employees) and our friends at Sheffield CityRegion and the D2N2 LEPs will continue to hearus knocking loudly at their doors.


In the euphemistic world of public service, when people refer to a ‘bravedecision’ they often mean an unwise and possibly foolish move.

From John Mothersole, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council

Economic prosperity is a big priority for Derbyshire Dales District Council,which is why we joined the Sheffield City Region Local EconomicPartnership (LEP) last year.

From Cllr Lewis Rose OBE, Leader of Derbyshire Dales District Council,

03



At 10am on Monday 25 November 2013, in alandmark moment for the city, Sheffield’s new £18million Moor Market was officially declared openfor business.

“The best marketin Britain”The new building sits proudly at the heart of the Moor, with the curves of the market entrance echoing the design of Sheffield’s famous wintergardens and already feeling like an iconic part of the city. Speaking at the opening of the Market, Cllr Julie Dore, Leader of Sheffield City Council,commented: “The new Moor Market is not only an investment in terms of the stunning new building, but also an investment in Sheffield-runindependent business and the future economy of our city. The new market provides a great shopping experience and captures the trueentrepreneurial spirit of Sheffield. The reaction from traders and shoppers alike has been phenomenal and I want to thank everyone involved forhelping to create what is without doubt the best market in Britain.”

Two months after the opening of the new Moor Market, Retail Matters speaks to some of the key figures involved in running the markets, to findout how everything has been going.

Managing the new Moor Market

Andy Ward, Head of Sheffield Markets, hasbeen working with the Sheffield Marketsteam since 1998 and says,

“The initial public reaction to the opening ofThe Moor Market has been absolutelyoverwhelming. We had over 125,000 peoplethrough the market’s doors during the firstweek of trading, a vast increase on theaverage number of weekly customers at the

old Castle Market. Over 25,000 peoplevisited the market on the first Monday alone,and so many people had gathered outside themain entrance before it opened at 10am thatthe security staff had to stagger people’sentry. I can vividly remember looking at all ofthe people flooding into the building on thatfirst day. It really was an incredible feeling,and we have been extremely busy ever since.

“From a personal perspective, it has beenfantastic to hear all of the positive customercomments about the range and quality ofstalls within the market. All traders have hadto meet high standards in order to gain a stallwithin the market, and we carefullyconsidered the balance of traders during theapplication process to ensure that the marketoffers a diverse range of products tocustomers. We have also invested a great dealof time and resource during the last fewmonths helping the Castle Market traders todevelop their stalls and meet the applicationcriteria, working with The Source Academy tooffer all traders free World Host CustomerService training and business developmentsupport. This has been invaluable in helping

large numbers of Castle Market traders tosecure stalls within the new market, and it isgreat to see them settling into the newbuilding.

“There is already a wonderful communityspirit developing within the new market,which I think stems partly from having all ofthe traders on one floor. The new MoorMarket building, which already feels like aniconic part of Sheffield, is also starting tobecome a focal point for the localcommunity. Over the coming months we willbe encouraging local colleges to use kitchendemonstration equipment in the centre ofthe Market to teach students about healthyeating, and we are also partnering withHallam FM on their Mission Christmascampaign, which donates gifts todisadvantaged local children. It is a great timeto be part of the Sheffield Markets team andwe have so many exciting plans for 2014.Whilst the last few months have beenincredibly hard work, we have delivered themarket on time, on budget and to anexcellent reaction from the public. And that isa source of great pride to me”

New retail business opportunites

The Moor Market has also provided opportunities for budding entrepreneurs suchas Anton Smith to set up their first business.Anton, owner of the Juicy Pattie Shop, says, “I have always wanted to start my ownbusiness, and when I heard about theopenings available at the Moor Market itsounded like the perfect opportunity. I feltthere was a gap in the local market for freshJamaican food and decided to just go for it. Ihave sold all of my stock on every day oftrading so far, and am now looking at ways in

which I can expand my operation in 2014,including setting up a new location to makethe patties and hiring two apprentices. As theyoungest trader at the Moor Market, I had thehonour of officially opening the market byringing an 1851 Sheffield market bell alongsideone of the market’s oldest traders, ReneGranelli. This tradition can be traced backover 400 years, demonstrating the extent towhich markets form an integral part of thecity’s heritage, and I am delighted to be partof this exciting new chapter at the Moor.”

Andy WardHead of Sheffield Markets

Anton SmithOwner, Juicy Pattie Shop

04



A breath of fresh air for experiencedmarket traders

Stuart McClarnan, owner of Stuart’s Fruitand Veg, had been trading at Castle Marketfor 10 years before moving to the new MoorMarket.

He says, “The new Market has been a breathof fresh air. Being based in the centre ofSheffield has really helped to increase ourcustomer base, and it has been noticeablehow many more young people are buyingfrom our stall, which is really great news forour long-term sustainability.

By communicating regularly with our existingcustomers in advance of the move, andproviding them with information on whereour new stall would be based, we were ableto open with a queue and it has been allsystems go ever since. The level of footfallwhich we have experienced at the new MoorMarket has dwarfed the levels which we usedto gain at Castle Market, and if everythingcontinues like this it will be fantastic for mybusiness and the local community. Stuart’sFruit and Veg has always had two of the keyingredients for good retailing - a good qualityproduct at the right price. Now we have theright location as well, and I am delighted tobe trading in a market which I feel proud of.”

Family business Cascade Floral Design hadbeen trading at Castle Market for 47 yearsbefore moving to the Moor Market, havingbeen first set up by Margaret Howard in 1966.Alison Whitham, Margaret’s daughter, startedworking at the stall in 1986 and says a lot haschanged since she started working with thebusiness. “I have lots of incredibly fondmemories of the old Castle Market but thebuilding had become tired and the footfallhad fallen in recent years. The move to theMoor Market has been brilliant for ourbusiness, and I am really delighted that wehave been able to move whilst my mum isstill involved in running the stall. The main

principles ofour business,sellingmodernflowerssourcedfreshly on theday, offeringgood value tothe customerand going the extra mile on flowerpresentation, will remain the same as ever,but we now have a much more receptiveaudience.

“I am really excited about what 2014 holds,particularly as my daughter Jessica, who hasbeen helping out with the stall for the lastnine months, has recently started with thebusiness full-time. She certainly hasn’t optedfor an easy life - on a typical day we will wakeup at 5.30am in the morning to purchase freshflowers and set up the stall, trade from8.30am – 5.30pm six days a week, and thencomplete additional tasks such as accountingand stock-taking in the evening. Yet workingat Cascade Floral Design is also incrediblyrewarding, I feel so lucky to work with myfamily every day, and we have a wonderfulnew market. I certainly wouldn’t have it anyother way.”

Future exciting retail developments on The MoorThe positive impact of the new marketbuilding has not just been restricted tomarket traders. Locating the building on TheMoor is an integral part of the Sheffield CityCentre Master Plan, which aims toconsolidate and strengthen the city’s retailoffer in the central core shopping area. Theearly signs suggest that this strategy has beenhighly successful, and Nicolas Atkinson,Managing Director at Atkinson Group Limited,says, “During the five week trading period ofDecember since the new market complexopened on 25th November, our own saleshave risen 6.1% (year on year). Use of ourmanned 440 space car park above Atkinsonshas risen by 25% during the same period andfootfall has been noticeably higher at alltimes. The number new of new customers issignificant and is having a really positiveimpact on our business”.

With this stage of the city centre master plansuccessfully completed, attention will nowturn to the wider development of The Moor,and there are exciting plans afoot forSheffield’s retail offer in 2014 and beyond.Kerri Hunter, Deputy Fund Manager at SWIPPT,the organisation responsible for developingThe Moor, says, “The Moor development willrevitalise Sheffield City Centre. We are working towards creating an area thatprovides a quality retail and leisureenvironment as well as an evening economy,

which will increase dwell time and so, extendshopping hours. Flagship fashion retailerPrimark has signed for one of the principaldevelopment phases on The Moor as anchortenant for a new retail, cinema and restaurantcomplex opening in 2015, and confidence isgrowing that The Moor represents a fantasticopportunity to secure retail and leisure unitsin Sheffield that will accommodate modernrequirements in a welcoming environment.”

These are certainly exciting times for retail inSheffield City Centre. For now, customers canbask in the success of the fantastic new MoorMarket which does justice to the city’sinnovative, inspirational and hard-workingmarket traders. Looking into the future, it isclear that The Moor will develop into a jewelin the Sheffield City Region’s retail crown,providing

a first class shopping location forcustomersandhelping tofurtherestablishthe regionas the RetailHub of theNorth.

A busy dayThe New Moor Market

Stuart McClarnan

Stuart’s Fruit and Veg

Artist Impression

Future Moor Development

Jessica, Margaret, Alison

Cascade Floral Design

05



1 Steel, C. (2008) Hungry City: How food shapes our lives

Bringing modern touches to Barnsley’s rich market heritage

Barnsley has a rich market heritage, with a town centre marketestablished since 1249, further district markets in Wombwell, Hoyland,Goldthorpe, and an incredibly picturesque market at Penistone whichsits within the largest oak framed municipal building built for 100years. Ann Untisz, Town CentreServices Manager for BarnsleyCouncil, says, “2013 has been ahugely successful year for ourBarnsley Markets, with anestimated footfall of 2.3 millionpeople during the year. Ourcentral market’s 300 stalls havehad occupancy rates of above98% for several years now, andthe number of coach visits to themarket increases year on year,playing a vital role in bringingpeople into Barnsley andstimulating our local economy.Local people are rightfully loyaland passionate about the market, and its central location has helpedthe market to become a key feature of Barnsley’s identity as a town.

“We have worked hard during the last few years to bring some moderntouches to the market, utilising technology to promote the productsand services offered by traders. This has included developing a BarnsleyMarket application for android and iPhone operating systems, whichprovides customers with information on each trader, including anoverview of products and services provided, pictures of the stall,opening hours, and any deals which the traders are offering that day.We have been delighted with the response to the app, which won the2013 National Association of British Authorities Market InnovationAward, and are now finding that younger people are increasinglyshopping at the market. It is fantastic to see our savvy market tradersestablishing new stalls to meet the demands of the younger customers.

“We will be looking to developthe phone application further in2014, so that people can orderproducts from the Marketonline. Customers will still berequired to collect theirpurchased goods in town,which will ensure that theMarket continues to bring thepeople of Barnsley together, inkeeping with a tradition whichis absolutely vital to thevibrancy and identity of thetown. By bringing moderntouches to Barnsley’s richmarket heritage, we are confident that we can provideBarnsley Markets with the platform to be successful for another 800years.”

Re-connecting with traditional market values in Rotherham

The history of Rotherham Market can be traced back to a charter in1207 by King John, which granted ownership of the Market to Eustacede Vascey. The town’s market has subsequently had a rich history,demonstrating the vital role which retailhas played throughout Rotherham’shistory. Edward I transferred ownership tothe Monks of Rufford Abbey in 1284, whoretained them until the dissolution of theMonasteries in 1536, when the Marketrights were granted by Henry VIII to theEarl of Shrewsbury, and passed insuccession to the Earl of Arundel, Dukeof Norfolk and the Effingham family,before being taken over in 1863 by theRotherham Local Board of Health andsubsequently by Rotherham BoroughCouncil.

The modern Centenary MarketComplex was opened for business inMarch 1971, and one man who knows more than most about its recenthistory is Phillip Eastwood, who owns Eastwood’s Fishmongers with hisfather, Maurice Eastwood. He says, “Eastwood’s Fishmongers has beentrading in Rotherham Markets since 1909 and I am the fourthgeneration of my family which has been involved in running thebusiness. The market is a fundamental part of my own history, and thehistory of the town, and it was just an incredibly exciting place to bewhen I was growing up – the atmosphere was always electric, and atweekends the market would be packed to the rafters, with people fromall walks of life sharing stories, buying their supplies and supporting thelocal traders. It is fair to say that I was bitten by the market bug as achild. I got involved with running the store as soon as I could see overthe counter, and haven’t looked back since.

“I have noticed a new wave of interest in Rotherham Market recently,and am finding that people are re-connecting with the traditionalvalues of market trading - buying high quality fresh produce at a goodprice directly from the people who own the business. I attribute thissuccess partly to the excellent customer service provided by traders,many of whom are running stalls which have been in their families fordecades and are therefore rightfully proud of their place inRotherham’s history. We are no different in this regard, and my father,brother-in-law, sister and I work hard every day to provide excellentservice to customers, and maintain the fantastic reputation ofEastwood Fishmongers. Whilst the strength of our business will alwaysbe in its heritage, there have also been some fantastic developmentsduring my time running the business, with improved worldwidetransport links and reduced costs meaning that we are now able tosource fresh fish every day from across the globe, and I am lookingforward to writing a new chapter in the rich history of RotherhamMarket in 2014.”

The extent to which the development of the Sheffield City Region has been inexorably intertwined with the growth of the region’s retail markets isimmediately apparent from even a cursory glance at the history books, and the markets are continuing to perform well in the 21st century despiteincreased competition from supermarkets, out of town shopping centres and the internet. This month Retail Matters speaks to some of the keypeople involved in running the Sheffield City Region’s markets, to try and find out the secret behind their success.

All of the markets across the Sheffield City Region are firmly embedded within the histories of their respectivetowns and bring a wealth of benefits to their local community above their undoubtedly substantial economiccontribution. In her book ‘Hungry City’, Carolyn Steel states, “Markets bring a quality to urban life that is all too rarein the West: a sense of belonging, engagement, character. They connect us to an ancient sense of public place.1”

Retail markets thriving across the Sheffield City Region

Providing Excellent Customer Service

Barnsley Market

Spoilt for choiceBarnsley Market

Philip EastwoodEastwood’s Fishmongers06



A time of growth at Chesterfield Market

Chesterfield Market hasbeen earning royal revenuesince 1165, when the Sheriffof Derbyshire recorded anaccount of £1 2s 7d. In theearly 1220s, the marketoutgrew its original sitenear the town’s ‘CrookedSpire’ and moved to itscurrent location at theMarket Hall, which wasbought by ChesterfieldCouncil in 1873 and hasrecently reopened after a£4 million refurbishment.

Simon Davidson owns Davidson’s Cheese Factor, which hasbeen established in Chesterfield Market Hall since 1960, and says therefurbishment has had a really positive impact on the town.“Davidson’s Cheese Factor was originally set up by my father, RoyPurcell Davidson, a poultry farmer from Chesterfield who wanted toexpand his operations to sell cheese. He sourced the Stilton cheesefrom our local Hartington Creamery, and the stall’s popularity meantthat he quickly grew the business to incorporate five stalls and twoshops. I first started helping out at the stall after school during the1980s, serving customers, fetching water and running errands, and ithas been a privilege to carry on my father’s business.

“Chesterfield Market offers customers something unique anddifferent during a time when they increasingly value the experienceof shopping - all of the traders here are incredibly friendly, place theutmost importance on customer service, and offer fantastic value formoney. The refurbishment to the Market Hall is a giant step forwardfor the town, and will allow me to take Davidson’s Cheese Factor tothe next level in 2014. Whilst we are now expanding the wholesaleaspect to our business, having built a new creamery just outside ofHartington which now produces 50 tonnes of cheese a year, the stallin Chesterfield Market Hall will continue to provide the foundationsof our business next year, as it has been for the last 53 years.”

Chesterfield is also host to one of the largest open air markets inEngland and Paul Hind, owner of local greeting card business TopCard, says both markets are fundamental to the identity of

Chesterfield. “There have been some real changes within the retailsector during my 30 years running a stall in Chesterfield’s open airmarket, with the development of out-of-town shopping centresdramatically changing the shopping habits of customers. Whilst themain principles of retailing still apply, customers now also look foran experience when they shop, and this is where Chesterfield Marketcomes into its own - there is a real buzz about the market on tradingdays, with a fantastic atmosphere generated by the banter of 200traders interacting with customers in a prime location right in thecentre of the town. The market puts Chesterfield on the map,attracting people into the town from across the UK and helping toboost other local businesses.

“I absolutely love being a market trader, and have recently startedrunning a stall at the new Market Hall as well. The working days arelong and it is certainly not an easy life, but I love meeting lots ofdifferent people, talking with my regular customers, taking in thecommunity feel of the markets and playing my small part inestablishing the Sheffield City Region as the Retail Hub of theNorth.”

Simon DavidsonDavidson’s Cheese Factor

Above:Cllr Paul Christopher Stone (Mayor), John Burrows (Leader of the Council) and BarbaraWallace (Mayoress) opening the new market building

Below:Chesterfield Market in full bloom

07


www.thesourceacademy.co.uk

The Source Skills Academy

a: 300 Meadowhall Way Sheffield S9 1EAt: + 44 (0) 114 263 5600f: + 44 (0) 114 263 5700e: [email protected]: www.thesourceacademy.co.uk

We have Apprenticeships available in:• Retail• Customer Service• Marketing• Administration

• Warehousing• Management• Hospitality

For more information call: 0114 263 6658or email: [email protected]

Fear not we have a Super Apprenticeship for you!


1 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-figures-show-record-numbers-of-apprentices

2 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-figures-show-record-numbers-of-apprentices

3http://www.sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/2013/03/event-marks-launch-of-multi-million-pound-plan-to-boost-jobs-and-skills/

4 http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

The seventh National Apprenticeship Week will take place between 3 – 7 March 2014, and will celebrate thepositive impact which apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

The event will also aim to increase awareness,understanding and demand for apprenticeshipswithin the UK, and employers are currentlybeing urged to consider the ways in which anapprentice could benefit their businesses.

National Apprenticeship Week 2014 will takeplace against a backdrop of apprenticeshipsuccess stories, with figures released inOctober 2013 showing that the number ofapprentices in the UK has more than doubledsince 2009/10 to 858,9001. Over 1.5 millionpeople have now started an apprenticeshipsince 2010, gaining invaluable on-the-jobtraining and skills whilst helping to build a hugepool of talent which meets the needs ofemployers2.

The growth of apprenticeships has beenparticularly pronounced in the Sheffield CityRegion, where the Local Enterprise Partnership’s

£77.3 million Skills Made Easy programme isentering its second year. The programme aimsto create 4,000 new apprenticeships in theregion and up-skill more than 2,000 adults3,and has already helped a wealth oforganisations across the region to grow theiroperations - 88% of organisations who employapprentices agree that they lead to a moremotivated, productive and satisfied workforce4.

Susan Gravill, owner of Brook Bakery inSheffield, has recently employed a secondadministration apprentice through The Sourceand says, “Having apprentices learning aboutBrook Bakery from the bottom-up has beenreally beneficial to our business, giving us thestaff we need to move forward into a brightfuture. Our first apprentice has come on inleaps and bounds with the support she hasreceived from The Source, and now has theknowledge and confidence to help our secondapprentice do the same. The new ideas,enthusiasm and motivation which the youngpeople have brought to our office environmenthas definitely had a positive effect on our staff.

We are really impressed with the quality ofcandidates that The Source has found for us,and are now in the process of recruiting a retailapprentice for one of our shops.”

Dale Robinson, Head of Sales and Marketing atThe Source Skills Academy, said, “Having seenthe fantastic benefits which apprenticeshipsbring to the young people and organisationsinvolved, I am urging all employers across theSheffield City Region to consider the ways inwhich they can get involved in NationalApprenticeship Week 2014. Whether it bethrough pledging a commitment to creatingnew apprentice jobs, promoting apprenticeshipsuccess stories across social media channels, orvisiting a local school to promote the benefitsof apprenticeships to young people, everyorganisation can play a vital part in making 2014the most successful yet for apprenticeships.”

For more information about apprenticeships,contact Dale Robinson, Head of Sales andMarketing at The Source Academy, [email protected].

Employers urged to get involved in National Apprenticeship week

08


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