The Association of Convenience Stores has teamed up with Centrepoint, the charity supporting young homeless people, to offer apprenticeships in the convenience store sector.

The ACS is working with Centrepoint to give UK c-stores easy access to the apprenticeships system at the heart of the government’s skills strategy.

Centrepoint will work with ACS and its members to answer questions about employing and training apprentices; to deliver apprenticeships through its network of trainers; and help retailers to access funding for apprenticeships. It will also find colleges and other training provides to deliver apprenticeships if Centrepoint does not cover their area.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Retailers have told us they need clear advice on how to access apprenticeships in line with the specific needs of their businesses. Centrepoint can support members at every stage of the process, from looking at the contribution apprentices can make to their business, to finding the right people, delivering the training, and access to government funding.

“Both ACS and Centrepoint are not-for-profit organisations, and this partnership is built around the sole purpose of helping retailers and the people who work in them to benefit from apprenticeships.”

Michelle Bellamy, operations director at Centrepoint said: “Apprenticeships present a fantastic opportunity for businesses to attract fresh talent and provide a cost effective means to invest in the skills of the workforce.

“Centrepoint is able to call on nearly five decades of experience of working with young people, to ensure our apprenticeship programmes are tailored to the needs of and ethos of each business we work with, to produce a skilled and productive workforce.”

For more details on apprenticeships, retailers should contact Centrepoint on 0191 510 9762 or m.bellamy@centrepoint.org or ACS at Julie.viney@acs.org.uk