Asda is trialling a new three-tiered school engagement programme in West Yorkshire, designed to help pupils develop career skills and encourage community engagement across primary, secondary, and college student year groups.
Running for the duration of the academic year, each programme will align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and specific ESG related content such as food waste, a circular economy, and inclusivity.
The programmes targeting secondary and college students will also help to build employability skills, encouraging students to hone their public speaking and problem-solving skills – all while showcasing the breadth of careers Asda has to offer:
- Asda Heroes: Primary school children will learn about sustainability issues such as food waste and hunger, working with their local Asda Community Champions to understand how this impacts their local community and plan a project that could improve their local community.
- Asda Futures: Secondary school students will be tasked with a “concept to shelf” project throughout the year, that will see them discover hidden careers a retailer like Asda has to offer with a particular focus on developing a sustainable vegan product. Participating students will develop key employability skills including confidence, teamwork, critical thinking, and public speaking. Students will have the opportunity to come into Asda’s head office and learn about areas such as product development, merchandising, technology and distribution.
- Asda Leaders: College students will be asked to solve a real-life business problem relating to an industry-wide EDI and sustainability issue as part of a “Dragons Den” style presentation. During the year, students will be mentored by Asda colleagues and attend Asda-led events to gain insight into different business functions, participate in mock assessments and enjoy employability experiences. Successful students will be given the opportunity to win a golden ticket to an Asda employability experience.
Hayley Tatum MBE, chief people and corporate affairs officer, said: “Through this programme, we hope to encourage students to take a keen issue in the important issues facing our planet, while demonstrating the breadth of careers on offer at both Asda and within the wider food and drink industry.”
Each programme will be trialled within ten schools and colleges in West Yorkshire, with Asda encouraging students from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate.
All three programmes will encourage the discovery of hidden careers, showcasing to students of all ages jobs in the food and drink industry that they may not be aware of but could have the skills needed to thrive.
The programme is the latest initiative from the food and drink sector to attract new talent, following the recent launch of the #MMMakeYourMark campaign from IGD, which showcases the food and drink sector as a dynamic and vibrant place to work.
Asda also continues to provide support for schools, having raised more than £2.5m for UK primary schools after three weeks through its Cashp
