Retail Ready People

Using retail powers for good.

We've teamed up with retail charity, Retail Trust, to offer young people in England aged 16 – 25 the opportunity to take part in a new 12 week skills development and volunteering programme called Retail Ready People (RRP).

Retail Ready People will enlist young people who want to enter or progress in the retail sector and give them the chance to set up and run a high street shop in their local area. Working as part of a 30-strong team of young volunteers, they'll take part in a free training programme to develop key retail skills. They’ll put their training into action by transforming empty shops into creative retail spaces at the heart of the community.

The project will run in 10 high street locations across England between 2012 - 2014, with Leeds & Rochdale confirmed as the first two locations for 2012. Applications are now open!

Retail Ready People is supported by vInspired, Retail Trust and Dan Thompson, of Empty Shops Network and #Riotcleanup fame, who will work with young people to turn empty shops into amazing pop-up spaces.