The George Davies Centre for Retail Excellence based in the School of Management & Languages has once again supported The Prince's Trust's Get Into Retail scheme.
The Get Into Retail scheme is aimed at unemployed young people aged 16-25 who are interested in working in the retail sector and helps them to overcome barriers to employment. The young people undertake a five-week training course combining theory on merchandising, marketing and selling of fashion products with work experience in some of Edinburgh's major fashion retailers including John Lewis, Gap, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols.
Students from the MSc International Fashion Marketing programme in the School of Management & Languages have been involved in providing mentoring support to the young people on the scheme, both during the scheme and also as they go on to enter the working environment. The scheme has been very successful with most of the young people having been offered jobs by their placement companies.
A celebration event was held at Heriot-Watt University in October where the young people who took part in this year's scheme gave presentations showcasing the skills and knowledge they have gained during the scheme.
For many of these young people, the opportunity to gain skills, knowledge and confidence to work in the retail sector has been life-changing
Joe Trodden, from The Prince's Trust, expressed his thanks to Heriot-Watt and to the International Fashion Marketing students, Joe said: 'We're delighted to be working with Heriot-Watt University on our Get Into Retail scheme, the students have been a great addition to what we are doing.
'For many of these young people, the opportunity to gain skills, knowledge and confidence to work in the retail sector has been life-changing.'
Professor Neil Towers, Director of the George Davies Centre and MSc International Fashion Marketing said: 'It is fantastic that our students are able to support these young people as take their first steps to a career in retail.'