Asda graduates celebrate (From Warrington Guardian)

Asda skills academy graduates celebrate

3:15pm Thursday 23rd February 2012 in News

A WESTBROOK supermarket has been celebrating the first graduates of its skills academy.

Two colleagues from Asda were among the first in the country to graduate from the City and Guilds apprenticeship programme with the retailer.

Katy Monks, aged 21 and from Great Sankey and Hannah Tidswell, aged 19, from Old Hall, joined more than 100 fellow apprentices from across the UK to receive their level two and three qualifications and mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week.

Andy Clarke, CEO and president of Asda, said: “This is a really special day for us.

“I’m incredibly proud to see our first colleagues graduate from the Asda skills academy.

“Training and qualifications don’t just give people pieces of paper – they give them the confidence to do more than they thought they could.”

Graduates successfully completed 12 modules of study designed to develop their retail knowledge and skills, as well as presenting a portfolio of their work for assessment.

More than 4,200 colleagues enrolled on the apprenticeship programme when it was launched in June 2011 and last week’s graduates are among the first to complete the programme.

The supermarket is currently offering employees a second opportunity to enrol on the programme.