Empowering the Future of Retail Through Inclusive Opportunities
Introduction
Superdrug and Savers Access All Areas strategy promotes the commitment to accessible health and beauty, which extends beyond products and services to include their people. Driven by the Access All Areas Network which spans both Superdrug and Savers, the initiative aims to provide valuable opportunities for young people and support their future employability through apprenticeships, quality work experience, placements, and upskilling.
Many placements lead to a transition into full-time permanent roles, offering mentoring and skills training tailored to care-experienced young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, through the initiative, Superdrug and Savers organise and facilitate CV and interview skills workshops to better prepare young people for the workforce.
Commitments
- Make opportunities accessible for everyone.
- Recognising that talent is everywhere, but that opportunity isn’t.
- To remove barriers that stop people from disadvantaged backgrounds applying for roles to join or progress.
- To provide opportunities for individuals to advance their skills after joining through apprenticeships and development programmes.
Quality Work Opportunities in Cold Spot Areas
The Network is dedicated to ensuring that opportunities genuinely enrich young people's future employability. They have a particular focus on stores located in the UK’s 'cold spot areas', where they pledge to support young people through a quality apprenticeship programme.
Apprenticeships
For almost 18 years, Superdrug and Savers have offered apprenticeships, helping more than 4,000 individuals receive a recognised apprenticeship qualification. Apprentices receive 1-1 support from a dedicated in-house assessor as well as their management team.
The success is reflected in the following points:
- Job Placement: Over 60% of those who complete an apprenticeship have secured permanent roles, with many progressing to Level 3 management apprenticeships.
- Career Progression: In 2023/24, more than 30% who achieved an apprenticeship received a promotion within a year, highlighting the clear pathway to the progression that the programme offers.
- Ofsted: The Life Skills element of the Apprenticeship programme was graded Outstanding by Ofsted. The curriculum goes above and beyond the apprenticeship standards, covering topics such as confidence at work, online safety, and mindfulness.
Care Leavers: Partnerships with Drive Forward Foundation (Croydon) and Care Leavers Covenant (National)
In addition to their apprenticeship programme, Superdrug Head Office partners with the Drive Forward Foundation, a Croydon-based charity dedicated to helping young adults leaving foster or residential care to achieve their full potential with sustainable employment opportunities.
Superdrug runs an annual Head Office summer placement programme, giving young care experienced people the opportunity to develop new skills and experience in the world of work. These placements are paid, and travel costs and a daily food allowance are covered.
Superdrug and Savers signed the Care Leavers Covenant pledge, offering permanent job opportunities and apprenticeships via the CLC. Applicants are offered guaranteed interviews and additional support through the application and induction process.
Ex-offenders
As part of the Access All Areas strategy, the network has also developed links with Working Chance, an employment charity that supports women with convictions, and Bronzefield HMP. Offering support with CV and Interview skills, and/or permanent job opportunities.
Alignment with the BRC D&I Charter’s Pledges
The BRC Diversity & Inclusion Charter emphasizes creating inclusive workplaces, supporting underrepresented groups, and fostering a culture of equality. Superdrug and Savers Access All Areas initiative aligns with Pledges 2, 3 and 5 of the BRC Diversity and Inclusion Charter, ensuring there is ‘no bias in the recruitment process’, that signatories ‘take positive action that supports open career opportunity and progression’, and that ‘we create a respectful, inclusive work environment within which every employee has the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the company’s vision and values’.
Through training, mentoring, and providing employment opportunities to individuals from diverse backgrounds, the Access All Areas initiative demonstrates how retailers can aligned with the BRC D&I Charter commitments and are working to support a more inclusive and equitable future for colleagues across the industry.
To find out more about the Access All Areas initiative, please see Superdrug's Sustainability Report 2023.
Find out more about the BRC D&I Charter here.
