Leading UK value retailer Matalan has teamed up with Newport-based recruitment and training company Acorn to roll-out a store-wide training initiative.

Acorn, which is a specialist provider to the retail industry, has been appointed to lead the training programme across all its dozen stores in Wales.

It is part of a government-funded multi-million-pound investment in training by Matalan, which has also agreed contracts to outsource national vocational qualification training in its stores in England and Scotland.

Sarah John, commercial director of Acorn's learning and development division, said: "This is one of the most prestigious retail training contracts to have become available in Wales.

"Our particular experience in the sector, coupled with ability to provide an all-Wales service, proved crucial factors in persuading Matalan to award us the contract. It means we will be the sole provider of National Vocational Qualification training to more than 350 staff across Wales."

Qualifications to be offered will include Foundation Modern Apprenticeships in retail, customer service, team leading, warehousing and administration, and Advance Modern Apprenticeship in management, retail, customer service, administration and warehousing.

Jane Cousins, senior training and development manager at Matalan, said: "This is a significant investment in training by the group. The retail industry is a key employer in the UK and we recognise that to attract and retain the best staff, we need to invest heavily in their skills and learning."

Matalan recently opened its 200th store in Croydon. Its stores in Wales include Cwmbran, Swansea, Bangor, Cardiff and Llantrisant.