Welcome to Yorkshire
Published on September 17th, 2026
•Xscape Yorkshire has teamed up with the Retail Trust in a new partnership aimed at supporting retail workers who face increasing levels of abuse and violence. This initiative comes as recent research from the British Retail Consortium reveals that retail workers encounter over 1,600 incidents of abuse every day across the UK. The partnership aims to provide free training and support to help employees manage difficult situations and recover from them effectively.
Partnership Background
This collaboration was announced following a successful pilot programme in 2025, where Landsec, the owner of Xscape, expanded its relationship with the Retail Trust. The goal is to ensure that staff at various shopping destinations receive the help they need to navigate challenging interactions with customers. The initiative is particularly important as the festive shopping season approaches, which typically sees an increase in customer traffic and, unfortunately, potential conflicts.
Free Training for Retail Workers
As part of the partnership, the Retail Trust’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign will provide free resilience and de-escalation training for retail staff. This training is designed to equip employees with the skills necessary to handle difficult interactions and to recover quickly after such events. The training includes:
Strategies to build resilience against stress
Techniques to de-escalate confrontational situations
Support resources to aid recovery post-interaction
In September 2026, this support will be rolled out to a further 13 Landsec destinations across the UK, ensuring that more retail staff, including cleaners, security, and guest service teams, can benefit from these resources.
Importance of the Initiative
The partnership is particularly timely, as the British Retail Consortium’s 2026 Crime Report highlights a concerning trend: retail workers are facing more than 1,600 incidents of violence and abuse every day, translating to approximately 43,000 violent incidents each year. The recent Crime and Policing Act has made assaulting a retail worker a standalone criminal offence in England and Wales, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.
Jason Warren, Centre Director at Xscape Yorkshire, emphasised the significance of this initiative:
“Every day, our colleagues play an essential role in bringing Xscape to life. It’s important that they feel supported, valued, and confident that their wellbeing and safety are a priority.”
This initiative aims to foster an environment where retail staff feel protected and cared for, ultimately benefiting both employees and customers.
Real Stories, Real Impact
A security guard who participated in the training shared their experience, saying, “When you’re dealing with antisocial behaviour or difficult customers, it can stay with you even after your shift has finished. The training was really useful because it showed that people across different roles are dealing with many of the same challenges, and that there is support available from the Retail Trust.” Their insights underline the need for such initiatives, especially as the busy Christmas shopping season approaches.
Community Awareness
Throughout the rest of 2026, the Let’s Respect Retail materials will be prominently displayed at Xscape and other Landsec centres, reminding visitors that every act of kindness counts.
Chris Brook-Carter, Chief Executive of the Retail Trust, pointed out:
“We all have a role to play in creating more respectful and kinder shopping environments.”
