Boots UK will be one of the first businesses to work with the Chartered Management Institute to offer a BA (Hons) degree programme for Future Leader Apprentices based at its Support Office in Nottingham.

From September 2016 the business will be offering a sponsored degree apprenticeship programme, to help encourage more young people to combine work and on-going study.

Supporting early careers is one way that Boots UK can help improve the health and happiness of the next generation, by offering a supportive work environment and access to further study and qualifications. Through this new programme, and in addition to its current apprenticeship and work experience schemes, it is helping more young people into the workplace, and offering exciting career development opportunities. 

Jenny Brown, Head of Learning and Development at Boots UK, comments: “Our apprentices are really important at Boots UK. These exciting and inspiring young people are our next generation of marketers, accountants, dispensers, store managers and executives; so supporting their early careers and offering the option to pursue further education should they wish to, is fundamental. We are delighted to add another progressive route into higher education for apprentices on our Future Leaders programme that supports these young people with their goals and aspirations, and with the next steps in their careers.”

From September 2016, both current and graduate apprentices on the Boots UK Future Leaders Apprenticeship programme, which offers a Level 4 Diploma qualification, will be given the opportunity to apply for the new degree programme to continue their education and undertake a BA (Hons) degree in Management and Leadership, supported by the Chartered Management Institute. 

Rowan Pickles, who is currently a future leader apprentice working as a Design and Delivery Assistant in the Apprenticeships and Access to Work team at Boots UK, comments: “As an apprentice, this move from Boots UK to offer degree level education as part of the Future Leaders programme is really exciting. I’m really confident that this career route was definitely the right choice for me. I’ll graduate with a permanent job at a company I love, without the same tuition fee debts that my friends will have, and I’ll have been paid a full salary throughout the process.”

Jenny, continues: “We are continually impressed by the fresh insights, passion, and enthusiasm that all of our apprentices bring to the business and have always been keen to support them in their further education. Often apprenticeships are thought of as an alternative route into the workplace to doing an undergraduate degree, so we’re really excited to offer this brand new programme, demonstrating that the two aren’t mutually exclusive.”

Petra Wilton, Chartered Management Institute’s Director of External Affairs, commented: “Investment in the next generation of managers has been shown to be more than repaid by the productivity gains they deliver. This Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship offers not only a degree but on-the-job experience and a pathway to Chartered Manager status helping to create a pipeline of true management professionals who will deliver both early impact and a sustained return on the investment Boots UK is making.”

All apprentices at Boots UK are employed on full time, permanent contracts. New applicants to the Future Leaders programme, to start in September 2016 will need to have achieved GCSEs in Maths and English at Grade C or above or equivalent, and three A-Levels (excluding General Studies) or equivalent which total a minimum of 280 UCAS points, plus the enthusiasm and motivation to succeed in these stimulating and challenging roles.

Positions for this programme will open to interested applicants later this month, and more information on all Boots UK Apprenticeship programmes can be found at boots.jobs/talentprogrammes/apprentices/. Information on Boots Jobs is also available on Twitter: @Boots_Talent and Facebook: Boots Talent Programmes.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors: 

For more information please contact Bethan Simmons at the Boots UK Press Office on 0115 959 1188 or bethan.simmons@boots.co.uk.

About Boots UK

Boots UK (boots.com), the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.  With 2,510* stores in the UK, Boots UK is committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative 'only at Boots' exclusive products such as the UK’s leading skincare brand No7, all delivered with the great value customers love. Created over 165 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the heart of the communities it serves.

*As at 31 August 2015 excluding equity method investments