A royal exchange

John Lewis Stratford City welcomed a royal guest on Monday when His Royal Highness The Duke of York visited the branch.

He was received by MDs Andy Street and Noel Saunders - of John Lewis and Stratford City, respectively - and met a selection of Partners from across the shop.

The branch opened last September and its recruitment process was a key part of its commitment to the regeneration of Stratford and the wider east London region.

It worked closely with partners including Westfield Stratford City, the London Borough of Newham and Jobcentre Plus to maximise opportunities for local people.

Job prospects

The Duke met Andy Street in October 2011 and, given his interest in ensuring young people develop the necessary skills to become economically productive, was keen to see the work that John Lewis has done with the local community in Stratford, particularly in the areas of youth skills and long-term employment initiatives.

The Duke met a group of Partners including some who joined the team straight from college or after being unemployed.

Daniel Brown, Selling Assistant, china and glass, was unemployed for three years before being helped into a job through Newham Workplace. 'If someone had told me six months ago that I'd be talking to royalty at work, I'd have never believed them,' he says.

'I ran straight home and phoned my mum in Jamaica! The Duke of York kept things informal and was genuinely interested in what we do. He talked about making retail an aspiration for kids in schools.'

Ambassadorial work

Stock Management Partner Allister Myers also described the visit as 'excellent'. 'He asked us lots of questions and you could tell he's passionate about people having opportunities and the chance to develop themselves.'

Noel says: 'He asked some tough questions about the business, but our Partners were excellent ambassadors for us.'