Liverpool’s Very Group, operator of digital retailer Very, has launched a new Data Academy in partnership with tech training provider Multiverse.
The degree-level academy will initially develop 11 of Very’s data professionals and further improve the retailer’s data capability to support even more decisions that enhance the customer experience, increase efficiency and productivity, and unlock growth opportunities.
Multiverse is the UK’s first EdTech unicorn, with a value of $1.7bn following a $220m 2022 Series D fundraise, and has trained more than 16,000 apprentices in data and digital skills since 2016. Its courses combine work and learning to unlock economic opportunity for everyone and it works with more than 1,500 organisations to support enhanced AI, data and tech skills through a new kind of apprenticeship.
The Very Group’s new data academy will see the 11 data professionals enrol onto a 39-month, degree-level Advanced Data Fellowship course, which will build on their existing skills and give them even more in-depth data analysis training to thrive in their roles, focus on more strategic initiatives and further help to ground business decision-making in insight. The apprenticeship is tailor made for professionals looking to elevate existing qualifications and further improve how their organisation uses data to inform strategy and enhance products.
Rob McCormick, head of data at The Very Group, said: “As data has become such an important part of business decision-making, our data teams are in high demand, which can restrict the time spent on more strategic initiatives. Through our partnership with Multiverse, we’re confident that we can increase efficiency and productivity through data and automation, benefitting our digital brands and our four-and-a-half million active customers.”
Gary Eimerman, Chief Learning Officer at Multiverse, added: “Investing in skills is an investment in business and individual success. The Very Group will unlock efficiency and productivity gains by further boosting its data capabilities, while enriching the careers of its people. We’re excited to partner with them to deliver this data academy.”
With annual revenue of £2.15bn, The Very Group combines online retail and flexible payments across electrical, home, fashion and more, selling “everything our 4.4 million customers could need, except food.” Its digital retail brands include Very and Littlewoods.
