LUCKILY for one team of new apprentices they did not have to impress Sir Alan Sugar to get a job.

For the nine apprentices taken on at stores in Bicester Village, finding work was a little more straightforward.

The team, aged 16 to 18, are among the first in the county to work towards a nationally recognised qualification.

The designer outlet centre has teamed up with Oxford and Cherwell Valley College to offer shop workers the chance to get two City and Guilds qualifications – equivalent to four A-C GCSEs.

Training is work-based, which means a college tutor visits staff on-site for assessment and workshops.

After a year, apprentices will gain a certificate in retail knowledge and retail skills, and can get a key skills basic literacy qualification.

Across the county, 1,400 young people are registered with Connexions, which helps young people find jobs and training.

One of those to benefit was Sophie Moore, 17, an apprentice with Polo Ralph Lauren, who said it was difficult for young people with little experience to get jobs.

She said: “The reason I wanted to do it is because of the qualification.”

Colleague Matt Gray, 17, also got his post through Connexions.

He said: “It’s not only the qualification, it’s the knowledge you gain from it.

“I would like to have a shot at running my own business one day.”

He reckoned the qualification would also give him a competitive edge when looking for a new job.

Course tutor Helen Hedley said 90 per cent of people working in retail had no qualification, but that was about to change with trailblazers such as Bicester Village.

Mrs Hedley, who previously worked as a manager for fashion chain H&M, said: “It’s a new innovation for the college to move into retail.

“One in 10 people work in retail, but hardly any have a retail qualification.

“This is the start of something big.

“We want people to know there is no barrier for anyone taking qualifications.”

Miranda Markham, group community relations manager at Bicester Village, said: “Each of the young people will not only have the opportunity to work in one of the most successful retail outlets in Europe but they will also benefit from a bespoke training programme, and gain valuable qualifications for their future career.”

bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk