Athletic apparel retailer lululemon has partnered with Swinburne University on a new business management course.
The lululemon x Swinburne course will be offered exclusively to the retailer’s staff and fully funded by the company.
The exclusive diploma of business covers eight units across leadership skills, HR and staff management, marketing, finance and more.
The program, delivered through Swinburne Online, is offered to store managers, regional managers and training managers who have worked with the company for at least 12 months.
Staff are able to complete the course within 21 months, 18 months of which will be spent studying and 3 months of which will enable them to focus on the business during the peak holiday trading period.
Earlier this year, 14 eligible managers commenced studying the program and are now due to graduate at the end of October 2020.
The retailer says the partnership is aimed at supporting staff to become leaders in the business and retail space.
Paul Tinkler, lululemon Australia and New Zealand Managing Director says the program is part of the company’s bid to promote innovation and leadership within the company.
“At lululemon we identified an opportunity to support our team leaders in creating longevity for their business careers. The course reinforces the skills they already demonstrate and addresses any potential gaps in their learning, setting them up for success over the long term.”
The initiative is part of a growing trend among retailers to offer staff free education in a bid to upskill them and promote employee retention.