Talent is critical to retail’s transformation – and now is the time to invest

Retail never stands still. For decades, retailers have been constantly adapting to the changing needs of our consumers who are looking for ever greater convenience, speed and choice.

We recently contributed to a new report by McKinsey and EuroCommerce, thinking about the trends that will shape the European retail sector over the next decade.

The report identifies a ‘triple transformation’ underway in our industry, across digitalisation, sustainability and skills. Without investment in talent, it will be impossible for retailers to keep up with the pace of change or realise its potential.

One of the biggest challenges facing European retail is an ever-growing skills gap, particularly in digital and data. The report predicts that our sector will need to upskill 10 to 13 million employees across Europe, around 40 to 50 percent of the sector’s total workforce. To ensure the industry is thriving in 2030, we need to start bridging the gap now.

With retail being such a powerful driver of youth employment, and with more than 10% of the European retail workforce aged under 24, apprenticeship programmes have a fundamental role to play in delivering this.

To help develop young talent at Kingfisher, we have delivered nearly 4,000 apprenticeships through various programmes across the Group over the past year. For example, Screwfix offers its own Retail Level 3 and 4 apprenticeships and a trade supplier level 2 apprenticeship, with over 600 people now enrolled. Whilst Castorama Poland provides work experience to young people through its apprenticeship programme, “Kierunek Castorama”, which is run in partnership with trade and technical schools.

We have assessed our current and future capabilities and plan to offer further apprenticeship programmes in key business functions, including Digital & Technology.

And we want to continue to help more young people enter the workplace, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our banners in France have a new partnership with Nos Quartiers ont des Talents (NQT), a charity which supports inclusive youth employment. Through this partnership our Store Directors volunteer to mentor young people, supporting them with their job searches and sharing careers advice.

But it isn’t just investment in those at the start of their careers that will fuel the transformation. Upskilling and lifelong learning have an important role to play too.

At Kingfisher, we are committed to providing colleagues with the opportunity to keep learning and growing. Our colleagues completed 2.3 million hours of ‘skills for life’ learning last year, including new product training, digital skills training and leadership development.

Only by nurturing talent and developing the skills of the future can we deliver the ‘triple transformation’ McKinsey and EuroCommerce so clearly identify. And the time to invest in talent is now.