India Retail News

The collaboration brings together industry and education stalwarts for the social cause of equipping less privileged youth with skillsets that turn them into efficient professionals in the applied sector.

The course begins from February 15th 2012 at the Donbosco Technical Institute in Kurla, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Over three months students, with a minimum qualification of the eighth grade, will be professionally trained in both theory and practical aspects of retail. As part of their internship, they will get on-the-job-training through a self-funding program at the select stores. Students will also receive a stipend of Rs. 3000/- per month during the internship with the additional opportunity to win schorlarship and sponsorship. On completion of the course, the students will be offered job opportunities as fashion consultants or sales executives within the group that owns and manages Planet Retail (GUESS, Next, Debenhams, Accessorize & Nautica), Bagzone, Samsonite, American Tourister and Lavie.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Vikas Purohit, COO, Planet Retail said, "We, as a group, believe in empowering the youth as they are the future of the country. We are delighted to partner with RAGC and give underprivileged students a platform to strengthen their careers. We hope to reach out to the students across the country and give them an equal opportunity to accomplish their dreams."

Mr. Kavi Luthra, Vice-President RAGC added on to say, " It is a unique initiative to create skilled manpower for emerging sectors and provide them with employment opportunities. Therefore, we are pleased to work with the Periwinkle Group towards our vision of making India a powerhouse for skilled work-force which will be in great demand in the years to come.  We are working on a slew of programmes in various sectors to impart technical/vocational training to underprivileged youth and make them self-reliant".

The programmes designed by RAGC will be conducted over regular lectures, hands on training, and project work in collaboration with Don Bosco's Technical Institute. The institute will also organise field trips as part of the curriculum. A unique feature of this will be an internship with stipend enabling a candidate to earn his fees back while he/she learns. 

Students that wish to apply can call on the following numbers for more details:

Asmita 09323232870 and Ashish 9221904624

About Periwinkle

Periwinkle Group owns and manages businesses across various retail platforms under a single umbrella. Some of their group companies include Planet Retail (GUESS, NEXT, DEBENHAMS, ACCESSORIZE & NAUTICA), Bagzone, Samsonite, American Tourister and Lavie. The group operates various formats such as Shop-in-shops, Exclusive Brand Outlets and Department Stores in the international brand space. It operates by setting new industry standards, venturing into uncharted territories and launching revolutionary retail concepts to deliver an extraordinary shopping experience to the customers.

About RAGC

RAGC is an educational initiative launched by the Rustomjee Group in January 2008 with an objective to provide training for vocational/technical skills and make India the capital for skilled manpower. RAGC's main focus and objectives are to develop vocational and careers-based programs and recognize these programs through the local, national and international authority/board/University. The institutions further aims to establish education study centres at a pan-India level and develop the curriculum in consultation with the industry. RAGC, through its efforts, wishes to establish a network with the industry for placement opportunities.

For further Information, please contact:

Melanie Fernandes| Vasudha Rao

982012 59967 |98203 47118