📋 Tender Overview
Better pay and conditions greater job security improving career progression and a commitment to creating a skilled future workforce are at the heart of a new vision to revitalise Wales retail sector being launched today by the Welsh Government.new vision sets out how the Welsh Government the retail sector and trade unions will work together to develop a successful innovative sustainable and resilient sectorretail is Wales biggest private sector employer providing jobs to more than 114000 people across the countryvision sets out ambitions to ensure retail remains at the heart of Welsh communities by offering people fair work and real career opportunitiesincludes measures to help the sector overcome workforce recruitment and retention challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the UKs exit from the EU alongside the impact on operating costs and consumer habits caused by the cost-of-living crisis.The shared strategic vision for the retail sector sets out how the Welsh Government the sector and trade unions will work together in social partnership to ensure retail has a bright and sustainable future in Wales which provides fair and rewarding career opportunities for its current and future workers.The retail sector is hugely important to the Welsh economy. It is Wales largest private sector employer providing jobs to more than 114000 people contributing 6 of Wales GVA.The Welsh Government values the jobs goods community services and benefits the sector provides. Ministers are committed to working with partners to support a sustainable and prospering retail sector that remains at the heart of Welsh communities which offers people fair work and real career opportunities.The changing face of our town centres is vital to retail and in turn our town centres need a successful and resilient retail sector. The vision outlines the major challenges facing the sector and defines the key areas where action is needed.These includeimproving career opportunities within retail with a commitment to progressively improving pay terms and conditions beyond statutory minimums ideally through collective bargaininggreater job security particularly in ensuring workers being offered guaranteed hours and sufficient notice of changes in shift patterns.retail becoming an exemplar of workforce equality diversity and inclusion with proactive steps taken to address under-representation occupational segregation and pay gapsensuring fair working conditions and a safe working environment with retail workers having an effective voice in decisions that affect them and their working conditionsensuring Wales town centres and high streets are thriving through interventions such as investment including Transforming Towns regeneration investment support for non-domestic rates and through the Welsh Governments Town Centre First approach making these settings the preferred location for workplaces and servicesaddressing skills shortages. Building on the Welsh Governments Plan for Employability and Skills and in partnership with the sector and trades unions Ministers are committed to helping to provide the sector with a future-proofed workforce. The plan sets out actions to both upskill existing workers and attract new entrants to the sectorhelping retailers to seize the opportunities of decarbonisation and digitalisation by for example reducing their reliance on fossil fuels minimising the carbon footprint of their supply chains and investing in and maximising the potential use of digital technology.Economy Minister Vaughan Gething and Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn are jointly launching the vision today during a visit to independent bookshop Storyville and Boots the Chemist in Pontypridd town centre.Economy Minister Vaughan Gething saidRetail in Wales is hugely important to our economy our communities and our well-being as a nation. Retail is all around us in every part of Wales - in every village town and city. We very much value the jobs goods community services and benefits it provides.Our appreciation of the retail sector as a cornerstone of the foundational economy has only grown through the COVID-19 pandemic - but we know a successful and resilient retail sector does not happen by accident. Thats why it is important we nurture the environment in which it can grow and adapt especially in response to shift to a more circular economy.The shared vision we are launching today commits the Welsh Government and the retail sector to an ongoing dialogue and close working to rise to the challenges ahead. We know there are no quick fixes easy solutions or infinite budgets. What we do have however is a willingness to work in social partnership with the Welsh Government employers business representative bodies and trade unions working together to understand where we are now where we want to get to and how we can get there.The Welsh Government is determined to improve the quality of life and the conditions that will make Wales an attractive place for individuals and businesses to plan their futures. I firmly believe the retail sector has a vibrant future and will continue to be a key player within the Welsh economy.Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn saidThe retail sector is heavily dependent on its workforce. A better deal for retail workers better pay better terms and conditions better training and better career prospects will help the retail sector overcome workforce recruitment and retention challenges particularly at a time of high employment. This will help project retail as a long-term career of choice and equip the workforce to deliver even better levels of customer service.
