The five day Young Managers’ course at Broughton Shopping Park near Chester helps Year 9 pupils from St David’s School in nearby Saltney to gain an insight into retail management. It is now in its third year and involves retailers as well as the management team. Pupils benefit from hands on experience at the Park, supported by class based learning. They develop management skills including communications, presentation, team building, problem solving and target setting. In 2006 the course was extended to Crown Point Shopping Park near Manchester. The management team held meetings about possible training initiatives with Job Centre Plus, a local Member of Parliament, Councillors and Officers from Tameside Council and representatives from TBC Vocational Education. A Working Group was set up and in 2007 the team will be launching the Young Managers’ course at St Thomas More School in Denton.
Since 2004 the New Mersey Shopping Park in South Liverpool has been involved in a Retail Academy for 16-17 year olds with New Heys Business and Enterprise College and St Benedict’s Catholic College. Trainees have attended ‘taster’ and induction sessions. Several of the trainees have gone on to work for retailers in the Park, having learnt how to put theory into practice. The improvement in confidence and communication skills has been impressive.
In 2006 pupils local to New Mersey Shopping Park, Broughton Shopping Park and Crown Point Shopping Park benefited from a Be the Boss Day. They prepared an application letter and attended an interview at the Park. The winning candidates then shadowed selected employees, taking responsibility for certain tasks.