Tesco has launched a training scheme for school leavers claiming to be an 'earn while you learn' alternative to the mainstream education system.

The development scheme, which will start in March with the first group of 60 young people across the country, offers a fast-track management scheme with potential to progress to store manager level by the age of 23 - on a then expected salary of more than £50,000.

During the two-year scheme, recruits will gain three A-level equivalents by completing an NVQ level 3 and Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. In addition, the syllabus develops employees' wider skill base - with specific focus on team-building and leadership skills. 

After successfully completing the two-year course, recruits will automatically enrol onto the wider Tesco trainee management scheme to continue their development programme.

David Potts, retail director at Tesco, said: "Mainstream education is not for everyone.  We want to show that there is another way for young people to progress into well-paid jobs with prospects, which is why we have developed this alternative programme. 

"The school-leaver course is a great option for those who would prefer to learn on the job and delivers not only on academic grounds but also provides young people with a skillset that is directly relevant to the workplace." 

The school-leaver course is just one of many training and development initiatives that have been devised by Tesco to help offer alternative educational programmes and job opportunities to younger people. Almost a third (29%) of new positions created at Tesco last year were filled by 16-24 year-olds.

Some of the training schemes offered at Tesco for younger people include apprenticeships, a trainee management scheme, the retail foundation degree and graduate recruitment.

Potts added: "Training is key at Tesco and developing our leaders of the future is a fundamental part of our success.  Although graduates are a vital source of our future leaders, we know there is a great talent pool of younger workers who can progress within Tesco from pre-university entry points too.  These schemes help us to ensure that we are training our colleagues at every level of the business and helping them get on."