We Need People in Jobs.
John-Paul Drake
Director of Drakes Supermarkets. LinkedIn Top Voice. Red Bull Commercial Athlete ?? Retail World Cover Boy.
What came first? The people or the jobs?
I am forever having this discussion with whomever wants to give me an answer. There is no point building business if you need more population growth for it to work!
The State Government's Skilling South Australia new initiative is to create 20,800 additional apprenticeships and traineeships over four years. This is to support and grow a skilled workforce for South Australia.
If you didn’t know by now - Drakes are the largest independent retailer in South Australia, and we continue to grow! We will shortly be employing over 100 people with the opening of our Distribution Centre, keeping jobs in SA and delivering a Skilling South Australia project for 70 traineeships in Warehousing Operations, supporting the State Governments new initiative.
We are only able to do this because we are building the business and providing the jobs.
Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) have been established to strengthen industry’s voice in skills and workforce development. I sit on the Education and Service Sector Industry Skills Council (try and say that one fast!), representing the retail industry and providing a voice to ensure that government funding for skills and training directly supports our industry.
This is great; however it bothers me, and I have brought this up at the ISC meetings, that there is no separate stream for retail. We aren’t even mentioned in the title – we are bundled with “Services” and joined with Education. The Retail Industry is the second largest employer in the State. It just doesn’t make sense.
It is just me?
Talking of Education, we need schools, students and parents to look at alternate education pathways. Vocational training needs to be a priority or even looked at as an alternate pathway to University. Industry needs to assist with lifting the status of vocational education and training (VET) and help unlock the potential it has to drive jobs and growth in the State.
We need people in jobs.
Marketing, Events & Brand Consultant at Priority Health Pty Ltd, Premium Choice
5 年Agreed, does our South Australia Parliament really understand how important and unique our SA retail model is compared to the other states and what support do they actually give?
Careers and VET Education Coordinator at Nazareth Catholic Community
5 年Congratulations a great achievement
Women in Ag | International Keynote Speaker | Founder of Bully's Meats | Skills Commission Chair | 2022 SA Agrifutures Rural Women's Award Winner | Advocate for Gender Equity | International Award Winner #bookme
5 年I think people underestimate the importance of people in retail and even speaking with them whilst they serve you. I had one lady tell me she was coming to the end of her shift I was the ONLY person that day that had actually asked her how she was doing (my first job was in retail - loved it) We need these more of them and it does give you skills for life.
Learning & Development Team Leader
5 年Well said! Retail has the ability to teach many skills. Simply engaging with someone and building rapport can be extremely valuable?