Sainsbury's backs 100 construction training places

Sainsbury’s has teamed up with suppliers to provide work and training in the construction industry for 100 unemployed young people.

Sainsburys’ has set up the scheme - Sainsbury’s Supplier Trainee Partnerships - with 60 of its construction, engineering, facilities management and retail suppliers. The 100 young people will be given 12-month contracts, paid for by the firms.

Once employed, the trainees will exclusively work on the supermarket’s building programme over the next 12 months, which will include 17 new stores, 100 new convenience stores and several extensions.

One of the firms involved is Surrey-based Longcross, and its operations director, Chris Miles, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to work with one of our key clients and jointly deliver something that will truly differentiate those who complete the programme. The training plans look terrific and will set a benchmark in the retail construction sector for all to aspire to.”

Neil Sachdev, commercial director of Sainsbury’s, said: “This is a groundbreaking initiative and we hope that other companies will follow our lead in getting the country working as well as providing meaningful opportunities for unemployed people.”