Arcadia launches new student working experience scheme

The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, has shown his support for a new work

experience scheme launched by Arcadia's Group CEO Sir Philip Green and Highgate School to encourage students to consider starting careers in the retail industry.

Last night the launch of the student scheme was celebrated at Highgate school, where over 800 people turned up to hear the details of the programme. The scheme involves 20 partner state schools including Highgate and allows students in the first year of sixth form to apply for a two week placement in Arcadia head office.

Sir Green has agreed to revoke Arcadia's prior work requirement which stated that students must have a degree to work in Arcadia's head office for students applying from the involved schools. The new scheme is set to allow students the opportunity to see what it is like working at the head office of a large fashion retail company and to develop a deeper understanding of what it takes to have a successful career in the industry.

The idea for the programme with Highgate school came around after Sir Green and his chief executive were discussing ideas on how to encourage students to work in the retail industry after Arcadia, along with eight other companies, were ordered to pay unpaid interns 200,000 pounds after an investigation carried out by HMRC came to light.

Students who apply for the scheme can also participate in series of after school master classes, which are set to be run by Arcadia directors and cover retail and property, digital and social media, finance, buying and merchandising and as well as sourcing. They will also be able to attend interview and CV writing workshops, which will be run by recruitment specialists during school hours.

Any interested students who are keen to apply will have to submit a CV and covering letter prior to being selected to have a video interview. Fifty selected students will then be offered the two week work experience scheme within a department of their choice at Arcadia's headquarters and will meet Sir Green and other company executives.