Usdaw has been supporting the apprenticeship programme with Tesco retail for some time and has more recently been involved in the pilots around the Tesco LGV apprentices within the Distribution centres.

The unions next potential area is apprenticeships in the dot com stores, now known as Customer Fulfilment Centres (CFCs). Southern Division Project worker Lawrence Miller has done a lot of work in CFCs.

Lawrence explains: “They deliver shopping to online customers, so they are a bit of a mix – packing orders and then passing them through to drivers to deliver.”

“We have been very successful in delivering learning in the CFCs around Functional Skill – English maths and Digital skills so I know there is a demand for learning. We have also set up learning centres in the CFCs, so staff are able to learn on site.”

Usdaw has pressed the company through the Tesco Union Learning Forums for the dot com centres to be part of the LGV apprenticeships.

Lawrence said: “Depot managers have been asking how they get involved as they sit between retail & distribution, but we are slowly getting there”.

Just recently Alex Brown, the Tesco apprenticeship lead acknowledged that it made sense to involve the CFCs.

Lawrence said: “We now are so close to piloting a scheme at the Erith CFC to deliver 10 LGV apprentices with a further 70 to be delivered at all fulfilment centres including Eastern Divisions Enfield & Greenford sites if the pilot is successful.”

“We are awaiting the Tesco Finance Director to sign off the expense to start so watch this space”.