Morrisons has announced a new fully-funded apprenticeship qualification and leadership training programme to give young people the opportunity to build long-term careers in retail management and leadership.

To supporting the government’s agenda to reduce unemployment within 18-24 year olds, Morrisons is working collaboratively with IGD, the British Retail Consortium and other businesses across the retail and grocery industry. It aims to  provide work experience as well as engage with schools and initiatives to help more young people move into employment.

The Proper Jobs: Fresh Start Programme will combine practical, on-the-job experience with skills and leadership training over two years.

Participants will begin by spending 13 weeks working in a “proper job” as a Morrisons store colleague and can then progress to a 12-month apprenticeship in their chosen specialist area of retail, including as a skilled Butcher, Fishmonger or Baker or hospitality cafe colleague.

On completing their apprenticeship and end-point assessment, Fresh Start colleagues will have the opportunity to progress to a place on a six month programme, the Sir Ken Morrison Leadership School.

Crucially, the programme aims to develop essential retailing experience like teamwork, communication, hospitality and customer service. Alongside preserving traditional craft skills, such as butchery, bakery and fishmongery, that are increasingly at risk of dying out.

By training recruits directly alongside experienced craft colleagues, Morrisons is actively tackling nationwide skills shortages in these specialist trades. As the largest provider of craft apprenticeships in the UK, this hands-on training ensures these heritage culinary arts are passed on to a new generation, keeping specialised, skilled craft at the heart of its fresh Market Street counter service.

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Jodie Keating, group people director at Morrisons, said: “There are more than a million young people across the UK who are not currently in education, employment or training. This is a major issue for the country and one which businesses across our industry need to work together to address.

“At Morrisons, we want to play our part by providing proper jobs that give young people the opportunity to earn, learn and build lasting careers. Our Proper Jobs: Fresh Start Programme will combine real, hands-on experience with a fully funded qualification, for example in craft skills as Butchers, Bakers and Fishmongers. It will also provide a clear route into leadership for a new generation of Morrisons colleagues whether they want to run a store, manage a logistics depot, lead a team at one of our Myton manufacturing sites or progress into a central business role.

“This initiative is part of Morrisons ongoing commitment to building skills, talent and supporting the next generation of leaders in our business. We are working in partnership with the IGD, British Retail Consortium and other businesses across the retail industry on the NEET challenge, as no one organisation can fix this alone.”

Morrisons is also supporting an initial 100 applicants through the government’s Youth Guarantee Schemes, to support young people who are not currently in education, employment or training and who have been receiving Universal Credit for an extended period.

The new programme builds on Morrisons existing support for young people in the workplace and its investment of more than £20 million in colleague apprenticeships.

In the last 12 months, Morrisons has recruited over 20,000 new colleagues, with 48 per cent aged between 16 and 24. Almost 500 young people are taking part in Morrisons leadership and early careers programmes. Of those attending Morrisons  Leadership School, 12.5 per cent are under 24 and 41 per cent are under 29.

Morrisons offers career opportunities across stores, cafés, traditional craft roles, logistics, food manufacturing and central business functions. Its integrated supply chain provides young people with opportunities to develop a wide range of specialist, operational and leadership skills within one business.

Morrisons is shortlisted for the Grocer of the Year at the newly elevated RG Retail Excellence Awards 2026. Taking place on 14 October 2026 at The Underglobe, the 2026 ceremony will bring together some of retail’s most influential leaders for an unforgettable evening celebrating excellence, innovation and achievement across the industry.