Retail Modern Apprentice Of The Year Finalists Announced

The finalists for the 2011 Retail Modern Apprentice of the Year Awards have been announced:

Upper North Island:
• Kirsty Barrow – Onehunga Jewellers, Auckland
• Erin Booth – The Scullery, Hamilton
• Alice McCormick – Grove Mitre10, Onehunga

Lower North Island:
• Rebecca Dalley – Darraghs Mitre10, Fielding
• Amy Thompson – Gilbertsons Mitre 10 Mega, Wanganui
• Tonya-Lee Harrison – Reeve’s Office Product Depot, Masterton

South Island:
• Melissa Amende – Things Design Store, Dunedin
• Stephanie Aitken – Mitre10 Mega, Dunedin
• Ariana Eady – Hallensteins, Timaru

This award recognises the Retail Modern Apprenticeship scheme and the hard work apprentices have put in to developing a career in retail. The finalists will be mystery shopped by Market Pulse International to help determine the winners. They will be looking for good customer service, communication skills and product knowledge.

The overall Retail Modern Apprentice of the Year 2011 will receive an Outward Bound learning experience and the notable title. All regional winners will receive a Samsung Full HD Ultra-Compact Movie Camera HMX-U10.

The awards are usually held in conjunction with the New Zealand Retailers Association (NZRA) Top Shop Awards. However the Top Shop Awards are a
bi-annual event and will not be held in 2011. Therefore we will be recognising the regional winners and overall Retail Modern Apprentice of the Year through a number of different media sources.

The Retail Modern Apprenticeship programme
The Retail Modern Apprenticeship programme is a government funded, work-based training programme for young people from the ages of 16 to 21. The programme aims to make it easier for employers to recruit and train talented young staff and train the next generation of retail professionals.

Retail Modern Apprentices are supported in their training by a Coordinator who mentors and supports the Apprentice through to completion of their qualification by providing support and advice.

ENDS