Retail apprentices and learners from Leicester College will be putting their skills and knowledge to the test in an ultimate challenge – to design and window dress the iconic store front windows of the Silver Arcade Shopping Centre. The Challenge will take place on Monday 3 March, to celebrate the launch of National Apprenticeship Week.

The group of learners, a mixture of Business (Retail Pathway) BTEC Diploma Level 2 and Level 3 learners and Retail Skills Intermediate Apprentices, will be split into five teams and each will be given the challenge to come up with a design and put together a stunning retail shop window display in a matter of hours.

This ‘live visual merchandising training session’ is designed to demonstrate the essential workplace training that is an integral part of undertaking an Apprenticeship.  The session will also highlight the breadth of opportunity for young apprentices within the retail sector.

Among the learners taking part on the day are Sara Orpin and Elly-Mae Scotting.

Sara, 20, from Lutterworth, is enrolled on the Retail BTEC Diploma Level 3 course. After completing her GCSEs, Sara opted to work full-time. Last year Sara decided to come back to further education and is juggling both her work and her college commitments.

She said: “This is a great opportunity to get a feel of what it will be like, to work in the real retail world. This is the first time I will be able to apply my visual merchandising skills to good use and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”

Elly-Mae is a Retail Apprentice at Aldi, and is training at Leicester College. She said: “This is a great chance for us all to work on real life projects. I’m really excited about taking part as our work will be on display for people walking by to see. It’s a great chance for apprentices like me to show our talents and also we can tell people about the benefits of apprenticeships. It’s going to be a tough challenge as we will all be working in real retail environment so the pressure will really be on!”

Rachel Hall, Programme Area Manager for Computing, said: “Working with real high street businesses is a fantastic learning experience for our learners; This is a wonderful partnership linking both Leicester College and the local businesses based at the Silver Arcade.”

Five businesses at the Silver Arcade are supporting the training session on Monday morning. Cocoa Amore, First Look, Divine Boutique, Deli Flavour and Hair and Booty are all taking part and excited about working alongside our learners to support their visual merchandising challenge. Ginny Gill owner of First Look, a clothing and accessories shop located on the first floor of the Silver Arcade commented: “We are really excited to work with Leicester College and its learners to transform the window displays at the Silver Arcade. As a young person myself I fully support the work to promote apprenticeships and training within the workplace.”

Jennifer Chase, owner of Hair and Booty, a Hair Salon located on the first floor of the Silver Arcade, supports Ginny’s comments and adds “Ensuring that young people are work ready when they leave College is essential, work place training and experience is invaluable. Apprenticeships really do support young people to gain vocational skills within the workplace.”