Morrisons has announced it will hire 1,000 homeless people across Britain over the next three years.
The supermarket chain aims to offer 10 per cent of the jobs it creates at its new stores to the homeless and vulnerable as part of new initiative in partnership with the Salvation Army and Leeds-based charity Create.
Under the initiative, staff are given three months of training in traditional food skills, leading to a Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 1 qualification. They can then go on to gain a QCF Level 2 qualification, or take up an apprenticeship with the retailer as a butcher, baker or fishmonger.
The first five people trained under the scheme will start work today in the new Morrisons store in Harehills, one of the most deprived areas of Leeds.
Norman Pickavance, Morrisons’ HR director, said: “We have a strong record of providing great careers for people through training and opportunities helping people to progress from the shop floor to the top floor of our business.”
“This initiative will help disadvantaged people to get their lives back on track. We look forward to taking this approach nationally and we would encourage other British businesses to join us on this initiative.”
Baroness Warsi, joint chairman of the Conservative Party, commented: “This is a great example of businesses working with the community to create jobs and drive growth at a time of economic uncertainty.”
“Initiatives like this will make a real difference to people’s lives, providing them and the country with the skills they need to promote growth.”
