The Tesco director described UK school-leavers as lacking basic skills and in general possessing an attitude problem during a speech this morning at the Institute of Grocery Distribution’s conference on skills.

She said: “We are seeing basic problems with literacy and numeracy. And I would say that many school-leavers have what you might call an attitude problem. They don’t seem to understand the importance of a tidy appearance and have problems with time-keeping. Often they haven’t learnt to work in a team. Some seem to think that the world owes them a living.”

Neville-Rolfe, who has been group corporate and legal affairs director of Tesco since 1997 and previously an adviser to John Major, added that there was a problem with today’s young and their attitude to work, which needed to be addressed.

“Forgive me for sounding like an old fogey, but I find that attitudes towards basic things to do with going to work have changed. More school-leavers seem to have a problem with things like turning up on time and coming to an interview properly dressed. Working as a team is very important in a business like ours, but team-working also seems to come harder for some.”

She added that lessons learnt from Tesco in recent years to support its young staff include encouraging aspiration and rewarding people properly.

Source: meatinfo.co.uk - http://tinyurl.com/yh6o2v2