John Lewis is to provide staff with the opportunity to study for degrees under a scheme dubbed the University of John Lewis.

The retailer, which has a flagship store in Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries, plans to introduce a Level 6 vocational qualification, equivalent to an honours degree, by the end of this year.

The course, aimed at staff in senior management roles, is in addition to its qualification programme, which allows workers – known as partners – to progress from entry-level qualifications.

Other sectors of industry are already offering degree opportunities as school leavers, some deterred by tuition fees, shun university in favour of the workplace.

The company's personnel director Laura Whyte said: "There is an old-fashioned view that retail doesn't offer people long-term career opportunities, but that is just no longer the case.

"Our partners give us our competitive edge, and if we want them to stay with us for the long-term, we need to make sure they have the right skills to meet the challenges we face in an evolving retail environment.

Last year, 1330 John Lewis partners achieved a retail diploma, with one-third picking up a Level 3 qualification, the equivalent of A-level standard.

The business, the UK's largest example of worker co-ownership, has 84,700 staff and operates 39 John Lewis shops and 290 Waitrose stores.

John Lewis managing director Andy Street said: "Whether you're 16 or 18, more people are going to want to go into the world of work rather than further or higher education. And that's what used to happen – many of our best leaders joined at 18."