Innovative internship develops young graduates into well-rounded professional retailers who are equipped for the exciting future of retail.
Applications are now open for the Professional Retail Programme taking place in Durban. Image: MRP Foundation / Pierre Tostee
Are you a graduate looking for an opportunity to advance from tertiary education into the working world within the dynamic sphere of retail?
MRP Foundation’s Professional Retail Programme exposes young graduates to the fast-paced retail industry, equipping them to become skilled traders and merchants of the future who can succeed in the ever-evolving world of retail. The ten-month internship introduces graduates to the universal principles of retail and its value chain for retail careers in planning, buying and store operations.
The innovative internship is delivered through a unique cloud-based learning platform and a combination of classroom, self-study and group project work, along with six months of hands-on work experience in select retail environments.
Where possible, graduates are also linked to potential career opportunities. Last year all sixteen of the talented interns from the 2017 class graduated with a job in hand — an incredible achievement. Suhail Rajah, now an Allocator for an established homeware retailer in Durban, was one of the 2017 Professional Retail Programme graduates and believes the experiential course gave him a greater understanding of the inner workings of a retail business.
“I was privileged to rotate divisions monthly within a national retailer and see how each division operates. I also had the opportunity to visit manufacturers to get a better understanding of how a value chain comes together. This structured programme, specifically designed for graduates, certainly pushed the boundaries, putting us through our paces, allowing us the opportunity to learn from established retailers and manufacturing companies within South Africa.”
If you believe have the essential qualities required of a Professional Retailer — a positive attitude, strong resilience and boundless passion for retail — then apply for the Professional Retail Programme here.
The internship takes place in Durban starting on 1 August 2018 and spaces are extremely limited. B Com, Retail Studies and Business Management graduates or final year students can apply by midnight May 31, 2018.
