’Work, learn and earn’ programmes are steadily increasing in popularity with forward-thinking UK businesses using them as a strategy to attract and retain talent. Arkin Salih, head of team development at Harrods learning and development department, told delegates at the Learning Development & Talent Management Forum in London last week that the luxury store’s BA (Hons) Degree in Sales for shop floor staff, which was launched last year, was already bearing fruit.

“Candidates are impressed by what we offer and the chance to get a qualification while working,” said Salih.

The degree is run in conjunction with Anglia Ruskin University. Participants spend three days a month on the programme, as well as 15 hours a week studying in their own time. They also receive coaching from both Harrods and Anglia Ruskin staff.

One reason such programmes are popular among young people is the impact of tuition fees of up to £9,000, due to come into effect next year.
“A lot of people say ’We cannot get an education because it is too expensive’,” Salih said.

In January, Recruiter reported that KPMG planned to recruit 75 school leavers in a six-year ’work, learn and earn’ programme that will incorporate working at KPMG and a four-year degree from Durham University.

A spokesman for KPMG told Recruiter that despite applications not opening until March, there had so far been “about 6,500 registrations of interest” online.
Global delivery and logistics giant UPS is another company to recognise the value of such schemes.

Roger Mays, HR manager for the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, told Recruiter that the company was so impressed with the results of its first undergraduate programme that it has decided to take six more staff on its new programme.

UPS has now set up a graduate programme for its managers, said Mays, again run in conjunction with Anglia Ruskin. Mays said that 132 staff have already signed up for it. “I am genuinely surprised by the uptake,” he said.

Anglia Ruskin is also providing ’work, learn, and earn’ programmes for Barclays, Volvo, and the NHS.