'Game-changer' | How Co-op is solving the retail skills crisis with accessible apprenticeships

In the throes of a £23.3bn skills shortage crisis, retail leaders say their industry is at breaking point.

Between cybersecurity threats, wage pressure, supply chain disruption, and employee safety concerns, the sector – which employs 2.84 million people, nearly 10% of all jobs in the UK – has had to battle countless challenges in recent years.

But there have also been positive stories shining through the doom and gloom, as some employers in the sector respond by heightening their investment in their staff.

The Co-op, for example, says it has met this challenging climate by fostering a culture of learning and development, including the provision of high-quality apprenticeship programmes.