WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The NRF Foundation, the educational arm of the National Retail Federation, announced today that it is offering its introductory Rise Up course for free to train more people with the foundational skills needed to secure jobs in retail and beyond.

 

"As the nation responds to the coronavirus, many retailers are currently hiring for 1 million open positions due to increased consumer demand, and people who earn a RISE Up credential will be better prepared to serve in these roles," NRF Foundation Vice President Adam Lukoskie said. 

 

Retail Industry Fundamentals is self-paced and can be completed online in approximately five to seven hours. It is available at no charge through June 12. The course covers basic customer service and math skills, along with best practices for interviewing for jobs.

 

Individuals who are at least 15 years old can access the online platform here. Organizations that want to offer the training to their employees, clients and students can learn more here.

 

More than 800 training partners nationwide offer RISE Up training and credentials. To support social distancing through online learning, the NRF Foundation is now offering the online curriculum to partners who were originally delivering the training in person.

 

New partners and individuals can purchase the advanced, online training -- Customer Service and Sales and Business of Retail: Operations and Profit -- at a 50 percent discount.

 

Visit NRF.com for updated information about Covid-19 and resources for retailers. 

 

The NRF Foundation builds the bridge between a growing industry with hundreds of thousands of open positions and job seekers around the country. Through education, training, scholarships and experiences for job seekers of all ages and backgrounds, we help more people take their first steps toward promising careers. The NRF Foundation is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters. 

 

The National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation's largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs -- 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies.