Marks and Spencer is launching the world's first data academy in retail, as part of its plan to become a “Digital First” retailer.

The company is offering employees the chance to learn digital technologies in an 18-month programme accredited by the British Computing Society, allowing them to “lead digital transformation across the business.”

Anish Parekh, of Londis Broadoak and Post Office in Ashton-under-Lyne, told RN: "I use a digital system for monitoring my sales figures, and it's really helpful. There's definitive value in training employees if you have more sites and more people, as you can use the training and delegate those functions to other staff."