Here the apprentices are in charge

18-year-old Azra Saliu, an apprentice retail assistant (Federal VET Certificate)

Before 19 January, Azra Saliu had never placed an order to ensure the store shelves are always well stocked. At the Migros supermarket in Conthey, canton of Valais, where the 18-year-old is completing her retail apprenticeship, that’s the department manager’s job. She was then transferred to the apprentice-run Le Ritz Migros store in Sion for three weeks where she took responsibility for managing stock levels of dairy products. “I dealt with restocking items, checked expiry dates and ordered what I needed from head office. I really enjoyed taking on this responsibility,” she says.

Azra Saliu is one of 22 apprentices who were given the opportunity to run a store all by themselves. “The young people have to rely on their own initiative. We don’t tell them what to do. It’s an extremely good way to learn,” says Gulten Ramadanoska, store manager at Le Ritz. Within the Migros Group, similar schemes are also run at the Aare, Eastern Switzerland and Vaud Migros cooperatives as well as by Denner.

“The aim is to provide our apprentices with a working environment in which they can develop independence and build self-confidence,” says Jérôme Albasini. As Head of Vocational Training at Migros Valais, this year Albasini decided to expand the scheme which was launched in 2015. “In addition to sales apprentices, we want to include back-office roles too.” This meant three commercial administrators, a logistics specialist, a road transport expert and a 3D poly­designer joined the 16-strong team of retail apprentices.

Everything generally ran smoothly, but there were a few little hiccups. “One morning I received loose eggs, even though we don’t sell them individually at this store,” reveals Azra Saliu. She had to find a solution quickly. “I called another supermarket that was willing to take them off our hands and then arranged the transport. It all turned out well in the end.”

Store manager Gulten Ramadanoska stayed in the background over this three-week period. Ten years ago, she ran a store in Valais as part of her own apprenticeship. “After completing this programme, I knew for sure that I wanted to become a store manager – no matter what it took.” Jérôme Albasini often sees how this experience provides a motivational boost. “All of the apprentices who took part in our programme now hold positions of responsibility at Migros.”

28-year-old Nicolas Oberson, apprentice commercial administrator (Federal VET Diploma)

Spending time in marketing, accounting and HR, 28-year-old Nicolas Oberson changes departments every six months during his apprenticeship as a commercial administrator. “I really enjoyed my time with the marketing team. I didn’t realise sales was so exciting.” He soon came up with a few ideas on how to optimally present the Sion store’s product range. “We organised a competition where customers had to guess the value of a shopping basket filled with items. We also held tasting sessions comparing a Migros product with a branded one. Over this three-week period, I really came to appreciate how much I enjoy contact with customers and just how fascinating the challenge of adapting to their needs actually is. You meet everyone from schoolchildren to elderly regular customers here.” Anything else he would like to do? “Running an even bigger store would be a great challenge!”

24-year-old Raphaël Gander, an apprentice logistics specialist (Federal VET Diploma)

The logistics team works in a giant warehouse where the temperature is 5°C to 6°C all year round. “That doesn’t bother me at all because I love the job. The role offers a good deal of independence,” explains 24-year-old Raphaël Gander. He skilfully manoeuvres his electric pallet truck through the vast fruit and vegetable hall at the head office in Martigny to prepare the orders for the cooperative's 30 or so stores, which will be delivered the next morning. “You always need to be switched on – you have to make sure the number of containers for the lorry matches the order exactly.” During the project, a trainee lorry driver did the deliveries to Sion. Everything ran smoothly with no delays or cancellations.

20-year-old Batiste Gilliard, an apprentice 3D polydesigner (Federal VET Diploma)

At the Migros Valais head office in Martigny, 20-year-old Batiste Gilliard is training to become a 3D polydesigner, the new title given to store design professionals. His responsibilities include signage in the supermarkets. “I design them, but also print and install them in all the stores in Valais.”

During the project in Sion, the trainee, who was born up in Vaud, enjoyed the opportunity to work with other teams, especially the commercial apprentices. “It was really rewarding. They presented their ideas to me and I brought them to life.” Batiste Gilliard was given free rein over the design process. “I was free to select the format, colours and design. They need to be trendy to appeal to young people.”

As in any job, the apprentice also had to deal with various unpredictable factors. “My designs were tailored to the store size and aimed to avoid impeding the flow of customer traffic. Good planning was essential to ensure everything was ready on time.”