NEWS B&Q announces new apprenticeship scheme graduates


18 month store-based course. This


is the first wave


Apprentices aged between 20 to 61 years old are amongst the 123 apprentices to graduate from B&Q’s Retail Team Leader,


Level Three


apprenticeship scheme, after successfully completing the


of B&Q apprentices to graduate, with more than 600 others scheduled to complete apprenticeships by the end of this year. The apprenticeship graduation ceremony was a celebration of success for the apprentices and took place at the Manufacturing and Technology Centre in Coventry on Thursday 30 January. As


well as receiving a recognised qualification, the


graduates also received a completion certificate and a Class of 2019 commemorative badge. The event saw eight additional awards out,


handed five of which were given


to apprentices from across the UK who had clearly and continuously demonstrated B&Q’s brand values; Together, Simplicity, Humility, Curiosity and Excellence. In addition, two special recognition awards were awarded for Apprenticeship Ambassador and Can Do Sprit, there was also an award for the mentor who had gone above


and beyond to support their apprentices.


Launched in 2017 and supported Lifetime


and Training,


facilitated the


by Retail


Team Leader, Level Three apprenticeship scheme aims to gives B&Q store colleagues the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to be successful in their role and equip them with


essential life


skills. With apprentices aging from 20 through to 61 years old, the scheme is one of the most age diverse in the industry and is part of the retailer’s ongoing


Dulux Academy celebrates National Apprenticeship Week


Dulux Academy is supporting National Apprenticeship Week for the fourth consecutive year with hands on sessions for more than 100 apprentices. This year’s National


Apprenticeship Week is focused on encouraging young people to ‘Look Beyond’, highlighting the breadth of industries and roles available.


It comes at a time when the need for trade apprentices has never been greater. The Prince’s Trust recently revealed that almost half of employers agree there is currently a skills


shortage across the UK (47%), and a quarter believe there will still be a shortage in five years’ time.


Over the week apprentices will take part in a ‘Colour & Effects Workshop’ designed supplement their onsite and college training, by providing an opportunity to deepen their understanding of colour theory,


language and decorative application effects inspired by the Dulux Colour of the Year 2020 Tranquil Dawn. The workshops are taking place at the Dulux Academy Flagship site in Slough and across the country in conjunction with five of its partner colleges: South Lanarkshire, Leeds, Bolton, Lincoln and Walsall.


Top three gardening trends for 2020


Squire’s Garden has revealed three


gardening NEWS IN BRIEF


n Clothing was a big seller at garden centres across the country during December (2019) according to the Garden Centre Association’s


Barometer of Trade report. Sales were up 9.22%


compared to the same month in 2018. n The third annual Glee at Spring Fair New Product Showcase Awards saw the ‘best in show’ awarded to Nano Tape from Creative Products. This traceless, waterproof and reusable tape is said to make it easy to complete a range of interior and exterior DIY projects. n Flymo has announced that family gardening TV presenter, podcaster host and author Lee Connelly, aka Skinny Jean Gardener, will be its brand ambassador for 2020. n MSPs have voted to keep the Universal Business Rate in Scotland, much to the relief of HTA member businesses, after its proposed scrappage back in November 2019.


4 DIY WEEK 14 FEBRUARY 2020


their top trends


Centres for


2020, gardening for wildlife, wellbeing, and the world. Gardening for Wildlife:


Growing plants as a nectar and food source for wildlife encourages native birds and insects to thrive and increase. Gardening for Wellbeing:


Increased emphasis on mental, as well as physical health has highlighted the proven benefits of being outside and reconnecting with nature. Gardening is a great way to disconnect from screens and find some genuine reality. Gardening for the World:


“Gardeners are among some of the most environmentally


Bira welcomes the Government’s decision to increase discount rates for small retailers


The British Independent


Retailers Association (Bira) has welcomed the Treasury’s decision to increase discount rates for small retailers from one-third to 50%. Bira, which represents the thousands of retail businesses across the UK, says the move will save its members on average £12,000 per year. The victory


follows Bira’s three- year campaign to review the


perceived unfair rates system. The increase in the level of the discount will apply in 2020/21 for


eligible retail businesses


occupying a property with a rateable value less than £51,000. Now Bira is calling for the discount increase to be made permanent. All reliefs are subject to state


aid rules and apply in England only. The Government confirms that it will fully fund local


conscious people I know, always on the lookout for green alternatives, committed composters and totally invested in doing their bit,” said Sarah


Squire, chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres.


“And the


industry is working hard to make sure plant pots are made of recycled material, which can in its turn be recycled.


“Britain has some of the best nursery growers in the world and you may be surprised just how many plants in your local garden centre are grown in the UK, many very locally indeed, thus reducing plant miles. If there is one thing I think we could all do for our world fairly easily it is to plant a tree. Trees are fantastic as a habitat and food source for wildlife and as a source of carbon capture. They also give structure and architecture to a garden.”


authorities for awarding these reliefs and provide new burdens funding to local authorities for administrative and IT costs. Local authorities should start


preparations to include these changes now, and act promptly to ensure eligible business receive the increased support in their rates bills at the start of the financial year. The Government expects


local authorities to


ensure these changes are applied for the start of the 2020/21 billing period. The Government will publish amended guidance for the retail discount reflecting these changes as well as refreshed relief guidance for local authorities.


commitment to making B&Q an attractive place to work. B&Q believe there are clear links and benefits between learning, engaged employees and ultimately, productivity, with stores where staff are committed to learning found to be some of the best performing. Since the launch of the store-based apprenticeships in 2017, further apprenticeships have


been


added across the business with 28 additional schemes including business management and leadership, legal, finance, HR and IT.


It’s official - decorating makes you happy!


New research from Homebase has revealed that


Brits are


increasingly tuning into the emotional benefits of interiors and home improvements, with one in two (54%) people stating that the physical act of decorating the home helps to increase their mood. The trend is supported by people under the age of 24, with more than half (54%) likely to turn to decorating for a mood boost. With almost two thirds (65%) of the nation spending on average every weekday evening at home, it may come as no surprise that one of the most popular sources of decorating inspiration is through TV shows and films (28%), with Aberdeen polling as the city most influenced by the small and big screen in the UK (42%). Interestingly though, despite being a nation of social media ‘sharers’, 64% of us would choose not to share pictures of our decorating projects on social media, preferring to keep the project personal. Comparing painting to the traditional


endorphin-boosting


act of exercise, the survey shows Brits feel much happier burning calories decorating a room in the home than on the treadmill (54% vs. 48%). The results show people in Plymouth get the greatest mood boost from decorating a room (65%) while those in Coventry are the least stimulated.


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