NEWS AND EVENTS

Auckland Winner of the Retail Modern Apprentice Award 2008 Announced

24 September 2008

"In five years time I would like to be managing my own retail store and running it successfully and by that time I will be qualified with my retail apprenticeship." says Ramesh Mavani, from Barkers Sylvia Park, the winner of the Auckland regional Retail Modern Apprentice of the Year Award 2008.

Last night at SkyCity the winners for the Auckland Top Shop Awards were announced. The Retail Modern Apprentice of the Year is a new category, sponsored by the Retail Institute. The award is unique because it is the only one that recognises individuals as opposed to retail stores.

Ramesh has achieved a lot in the two years he has been in the retail industry "I started the apprenticeship with Hallenstiens as a fulltime salesperson within a year of starting I was Managing a shop and now am Assistant Manager with one of the leading retail businesses in New Zealand." The award is designed to recognise committed retailers on the Retail Modern Apprenticeship programme focussed on upskilling themselves to be the future managers and supervisors of their stores.

Ramesh has won the opportunity to complete The National Certificate in Retail Level 4, the Retail Management Certificate. Ramesh will be attending the overall Retail Modern Apprentice of the Year event at the final Top Shop Awards in Hamilton. There he will have a chance to win an Outward Bound learning experience and the title of New Zealand's Retail Modern Apprentice of the Year 2008.

 The Retail Modern Apprenticeship programme is developed by Retail Institute and supported by the government.  It is a work-based training programme for young ambitious staff that is designed to help businesses develop new or existing staff. Ramesh recommend the programme to others and says he has learnt a lot from it "I must admit over the past year that I have been doing the apprenticeship the things I have learnt and read about has really been interesting and has helped me not only get various promotions in my short retail career but has also helped me with life skills out of work as well."

Ramesh really enjoys working in retail "It is not just a job where you turn up each day and try and sell product. I enjoy retail because it is all about the customer and meeting the customers need in the best and most efficient way so they leave your store with great satisfaction."  He says.