Supermarket chain Morrisons is planning to fund around 1,000 degrees for students who desire graduate retail jobs with the Bradford-based company.
The prospective candidates will be acquired over the next 18 months and will be required to study from home for eight or more hours a week. They will also take part in intensive courses in their region and will also embark on a six month training plan with the company.
Norman Pickavance, director of human resources at Morrisons, said: "This is an opportunity for young people who have the right drive and attitude to reach senior management levels in the company. It offers a genuine alternative to self-funded university qualifications."
The degrees will be centred in favour of building future mangers of Morrisons although skills and qualifications gained will be transferable to almost all other companies in the retail sector.
Up to 100 students could be enrolled on the Morrisons 'Futures' programmes in the next month or two with the following 900 set to be sourced before the end of 2012.