Driving workforce excellence in the retail sector
Thursday, 16th October 2025Discover JD Group’s talent journey with Manchester Met
At JD Group, investing in employees is at the heart of their success.
Learn how a university partnership with us has addressed challenges such as skills shortages, employee retention, and the integration of emerging technologies.
How JD Group have strengthened their talent pool with Manchester Met
JD Group has always taken pride in nurturing talent. Operating over 3,400 stores in 38 territories, the global sports fashion and outdoor retailer recognises the need to continuously evolve to remain competitive in a fast-changing sector.
Since 2017, JD Group has worked closely with us to develop tailored programmes that tackle key business challenges, from addressing critical skills gaps to building a robust talent pipeline.
Tailored programmes to bridge skills gaps
We provide the Bury-headquartered organisation with more degree apprenticeship programmes than any other university, equipping employees with industry-relevant skills that address specific operational needs, from enhancing leadership capabilities to tackling digital transformation challenges.
“JD Group’s focus is on its existing employees who want to gain new knowledge and develop their careers,” says Sherry Ndala, Group Apprenticeships Manager. She continues, “Manchester Met’s degree apprenticeships ensure we help colleagues to grow professionally in a way which is customised to our needs and fills the skills gaps within the business, whether that’s in head office, retail or distribution.”
Apprentices gain cutting-edge academic learning, allowing them to bring immediate value and fresh perspectives into the business. “Feedback from our apprentices has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Sherry. “They appreciate learning from industry experts, and they’re able to apply that knowledge directly to their work, sharing it with their teams and creating a ripple effect of learning.”
The tailored approach of our degree apprenticeship programmes ensures that the learning is aligned with their operational goals. “The fact that employers have the chance to provide input on the relevance of the learning and materials is one of the big standouts for us.” She adds, “It gives us faith and confidence that our colleagues are being taught the most current and practical skills for their roles.”