National Apprenticeship Week celebrations start today at the John Lewis Partnership where over 5,000 partners have now enrolled on an apprenticeship while working for the Partnership since 2017.
A special celebratory event for its recently qualified apprentices takes place today, attended by hundreds of apprentices from across the Partnership. This year has been the most successful year of apprenticeships yet, reflecting the organisation’s strong commitment to providing opportunities for people to develop lifelong skills and knowledge – equipping them and the Partnership with the skills to be a brilliant retailer now and in future.
As part of the John Lewis Partnership’s pledge to build happier futures for young people leaving care, they have made a commitment to offer apprenticeships specifically to care leavers. So far this has seen two care-experienced people join the Waitrose Commercial Team to complete Business Admin apprenticeships helping them learn key skills, and get their first important step into employment.
Commenting on the Partnership’s apprenticeship milestone, Ceira Thom, head of learning and inclusion and belonging at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “We are incredibly proud to have reached this landmark of 5,000 apprentices, they are key to partner learning and development – helping us continue to be a brilliant retailer and fulfil our Partnership Plan.
“The Partnership is continuing to invest in partners’ development by offering over 30 different apprenticeship schemes in 2025 – reflecting the full spectrum of roles in retail – as well as our commitment to attract care experienced people to roles in our business.”
Also new for 2025 is the expansion of T-Level placements, offering students on-the-job experience through a placement alongside their practical and knowledge-based learning at a school or college. Opportunities to work towards the qualification are now available at the Waitrose Head Office, the Partnership’s Textile Factory in Lancashire, and at the Waitrose Farm in Leckford across four schemes – Management and Administration; Accounting, Engineering and Manufacturing; and Crop Production.
Facts about apprenticeships at the John Lewis Partnership
1,200 partners currently on live apprenticeships across 30 schemes
Current youngest apprentice is 17 and oldest is 73, with 7% of apprentices over 55, and 13% from ethnically diverse backgrounds
Offer apprenticeships in subjects ranging from Butcher to Sewing Machinist and at all career stages – L2 to L7 apprenticeship schemes.
Transferred levy funding to 19 charities aligned to Building Happier Futures including Home-
Start and Action for Children – benefitting 81 learners year to date
