Employer Story
Halfords is part of the Halfords Group PLC. It is one of the largest British retailers for car parts, car enhancement, camping, and bicycles in the UK and Ireland and was founded in 1892.
The Traineeship programme has become an established and essential part of Halfords’ approach to recruiting young people. It offers opportunities to successful candidates to progress to an Apprenticeship and a permanent job and ensures Halfords has a regular intake of loyal staff.
As Halfords’ Traineeships partner in London, the South East and the Black Country, Skills Training UK is responsible for sourcing and pre-assessing candidates as well as managing their learning programme. The young people who Halfords selects are initially coached over a three-week period by Skills Training UK, working towards qualifi cations in Retail (Level 1), Customer Service (Level 2), and English and Maths at Level 1 or 2.
Personal development and employability skills, including creativity and teamwork, are developed through an ‘enterprise challenge’ to design the bike of the future. The futuristic designs are developed, built and pitched by trainees to Halfords’ Store Managers before work placements begin.
Thanks to Skills Training UK, the Traineeships are a great win-win. Not only does the candidate get great experience and the chance to see what it’s like to work for us, with an opportunity to move into a permanent role, we also see greater loyalty and, as a result, we have greatly improved our retention rate.
Marsha Myles, Apprenticeship & Traineeship Manager, Halfords
After interviews with their Halfords’ Managers, successful learners are offered a relevant Apprenticeship, or if there isn’t an available position, they join a ‘talent pool’ for when a position becomes available at a store. All the trainees benefit from work experience, new qualifications and a Halfords’ reference and any young person who doesn’t secure a position with Halfords receives on-going support to identify an alternative progression route to build their career.
We only take unemployed or those not in education or training, so it’s also a way that Halfords gives back to the local community.
Marsha Myles, Apprenticeship & Traineeship Manager, Halfords
Skills Training UK have helped me through several tough times and the staff here are amazing with people my age. I would love to be able to come back to Skills Training UK later on in life and hopefully inspire young adults to really get out there and get experience.
Kai Downie, 18, Halfords Trainee
Contact Us