Marks and Spencer is taking advantage of a government initiative to find potential managers among the long-term unemployed. The Ambition:Retail scheme ­ part of the New Deal employment programme ­ aims to equip people with the skills for sustainable work across retail sector and increase their career prospects. Head of M&S HR Alison Houston explained: "We've played an active role in the steering group with other retailers. We want to see local stores use the programme as another way to get the best people in a job." Houston said retailers wanted to see a strong customer service element to training provided under the programme to ensure that it would yield employees who were particularly suited to the industry. She explained: "We have concentrated on soft, technical and personal skills required to deliver employer's expectations." British Retail Consortium director-general Bill Moyes commented: "Ambition:Retail will help recruit high quality staff across the UK. "The BRC and retailers have played a leading role in developing this concept with ministers, the National Employment Panel and the Employment Service." Five test areas for the scheme ­ Bristol, Cardiff, Gateshead, Glasgow and Redditch ­ were announced by minister for work Nick Brown earlier this month, with tests kicking off this spring. Brown said: "The pilot projects will help 1,000 people into jobs in the retail sector." {{PEOPLE MOVES }}

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