Ambitious plans from Skillsmart, the Sector Skills Council for retail, aim to help the sector shed its label as a second-class jobs destination.  Despite retail adding billions of pounds worth of business to the UK economy and employing more than 3 million people, a recent survey found that 70 per cent of parents would not want their children going into the sector.

But in order to meet the demand for an estimated one million more staff over the next five years, the sector must tackle a lack of skills and qualifications currently combined with high levels of staff turnover.

Skillsmart for Retail has responded by developing plans for a National Skills Academy (NSA) wihch would establish a national network of retail skills shops in shopping centres and high streets throughout the UK.  The network would comprise around 70 skills shops, overseen centrally, offering tailored retail training, advice, jobs and local information while delivering training to national standards. 

The government is currently considering the plan and is expected to make a decision next month. If the skills shops get the go-ahead, they could go live early next year.

Additionally, a new Diploma in Retail Business, to be taught by a nationwide consortia of education providers and local retailers, is one of 17 new diplomas to be phased in from September. From 2010 the retail diploma will offer 14- to 19-year-old students key literacy and numeracy, as well as retail-specific, skills.

Consortia are currently being formed and members will be in a unique position to influence the skills and training that will be delivered.  Applications for membership of the new consortia must be submitted by 10th December.

In a further effort to streamline qualifications within the sector and make them more easily understandable and relevant to employers, a plan to replace a confusing array of around 150 different retail qualifications with consistently-titled, nationally-accredited, employer-led qualifications has just been approved by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

The Sector Qualifications Strategy for Retail will encourage more employees to gain recognised, transferable qualifications, some of which will be available via their employers through accredited in-house training.

Beverley Paddey, head of standards and qualifications at Skillsmart Retail, said: “Courses and qualifications that deliver much needed technical knowledge can make a real difference to retail businesses but we know that employers often find it hard to understand what the current 150 retail qualifications deliver.

“Our research also shows that staff with qualifications feel more valued and are more likely to stay with their employer. The easier access that the strategy promises will encourage employees and retailers to take them up, which can only be a good thing.”

The strategy which was developed by Skillsmart Retail with the help of employers, awarding bodies, and national qualification regulators will be implemented over the next two years.

For further information visit http://www.skillsmartretail.com/pdfs/quals_strategy_leaflet_v3.pdf

For further information on the Skillsmart consortia contact Fiona Stubbs, Diploma and Partnership Manager on 07795 962444 or fionastubbs@skillsmartretail.com

For other items of retail skills news see ‘Retailer participation vial to the success of skills academy’, 12 February 2008 and ‘Skilled staff vital for future of retail’, 18 March 2008, both available on the TJ Online news archive.

Subscribe to TJ news bulletins:

| Subscribe to our L & D RSS Feed

Related News

• Construction skills shortages in UK set to worsen
• Funding boost for scheme to support women working in construction
• Post-16 participation rate at highest level ever

Related Discussion Topics

• A national skills gap database
• Assessment Centre Statistics
• BBC interview: feedback, please

Latest News

• Health sector workforce skills need to be utilised more effectively, report finds
• Millionth worker completes training through Train to Gain
• Last week to apply for cash in return for help in NEET survey
• On demand software training company bought by compliance specialist
• ‘Inpats’ increasingly being used by organisations to bridge skills gaps