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Boots is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest and most trusted retailers, with over 2,200 stores ranging from local community pharmacies to large health and beauty shops. Boots have approximately 52,000 employees throughout the UK and their rich heritage of supplying quality health and beauty products extends to providing their employees with exceptional learning and development opportunities.

Working together with Inspiro Boots offer apprenticeship routes in both their supply chain and retail divisions of their business.

Supply Chain Programmes
The supply chain programmes have been running since 2018 with an apprenticeship offer available for employees to develop their logistical, technical and functional skills at Levels 2-5 across a range of supply chain and team leading / managerial apprenticeships. The Standards being offered include:

• Level 2 Supply Chain Warehouse Operative
• Level 3 Team Leader / Supervisor
• Level 5 Operations / Departmental Manager

The delivery model is flexible to meet the needs of a variety of functions within Boots supply chain areas and features one-to-one sessions with learners either face-to-face or remotely along with the option to participate in group learning sessions.

In 2021, Inspiro and Boots extended the partnership to design and build an apprenticeship programme that offers Boots’ retail managers an opportunity to develop as part of their career pathway in management and beyond. Inspiro’s curriculum design professionals and Account Manager worked collaboratively with Boots Talent and Employability team . They created retail programme for managers that reflects Boots’ brand, values and workforce development objectives.

Retail Programmes
The retail apprenticeship programme which has seen three cohorts signed up following a successful pilot is aimed at current and prospective store managers, developing high levels of retail leadership skills and teamwork whilst supporting staff retention. The retail programme is underpinned by the Level 4 Retail Manager apprenticeship Standard and sets itself apart from other apprenticeships as it includes the addition of the ICQ Level 4 Certificate in Retail Management.

The delivery model features tailored group sessions facilitated by Inspiro and supported by Boots; for example the ‘Leadership Theme’ giving learners the opportunity to participate in group learning sessions with the opportunity to share best practice and gain insights and context from Boots leaders.

Learning for both apprenticeship programmes is underpinned by Inspiro’s market leading apprenticeship training, with Boots employees supported throughout their learning journey. Training is delivered by highly skilled Inspiro Regional Trainers, in the workplace and online via Inspiro’s innovative e-learning and virtual training platforms.

Boots’ commitment and enthusiasm towards their employees created a strong platform on which to develop both programmes, and we look forward to our continuing partnership with Boots and the future successes for their business and employees. See below some Boots’ employee feedback of their apprenticeship experience.

Helen Lord
Boots, Bromley High Street, Level 4 Retail Manager Apprenticeship

My time on the Retail Manager Level 4 apprenticeship has been fantastic and really helped me to develop both professionally, and personally.

Professionally it has given me a deeper understanding of retail as a business whole, with really interesting insights as to how to grow and maintain a retail business, outside of the specifics of the company I work for. These skills and knowledge have empowered me to make sound and rationalised business decisions with confidence. Personally, I feel that the apprenticeship has been invaluable in developing my confidence and communication skills in my work life but also in all other scenarios. I am really proud of what I have achieved and would like to thank all who have supported me along the way.

Matthew Eastwood
Pharmacy Delivery and Collection Manager, Level 5 Operations Manager Apprenticeship

Each section of the apprenticeship helped me to understand more about the way I work and how I can improve myself in the role that I have. I enjoyed the assignments as they were challenging and made me intrigued to spend time on further research topics. My trainer made my learning enjoyable and was always happy to help with any queries I had.

I would recommend the apprenticeship it is very useful to do alongside the role. It has pushed me to try different processes I wouldn’t have thought of before and to spend more time on some elements of the role that normally I wouldn’t have. I found keeping everything structured using quieter days to complete my work worked for me.