02 Mar 2021
This qualification is being withdrawn
The operational end date (last date for new starts) of this qualification is 31/07/2021 and the certification end date is 31/07/2022.
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
These qualifications are intended to provide learners with a broad introduction to the retail sector, equipping learners with underpinning knowledge and skills specific to the sector alongside a range of transferable employability skills. They are designed to support progression to further learning and ultimately to work in retail or other related sectors.
The Skills for Retail qualifications form part of our Suite of Skills qualifications that cover a number of sectors and are available at Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2. The employability skills units are common across the suite, enabling easy transfer of credits between qualifications and supporting opportunities for cross-faculty working.
The qualifications have been developed with the support of a number of further education colleges, training providers and adult and community learning providers. They have been designed to be consistent with the principles for study programmes for 16-19 year olds but are also relevant, particularly in the case of the smaller qualifications, for adults including the unemployed. These qualifications are also suitable for pre 16 learners.
Changes to our “Skills for…” qualifications
The recent review of our Vocational qualifications has resulted in the decision to withdraw the Entry Level Diploma in the Skills for Retail (Entry 3) qualification. The Operational End Date of the qualification will be the 31/07/2021 and the Certification End Date will be the 31/07/2022. The E3 Diploma qualification specification covers just this qualification until it’s withdrawal.
Please refer to the new Skills for Retail qualification specification for further details of our updated E3 to L1 Skills for Retail qualifications.
Rules of Combination
Learners must complete the two mandatory units from Group M, totalling 6 credits. In addition, they must complete a minimum of 14 credits from Group O1 (Optional units: Retail Skills) and 17 further credits from either Group O1 or Group O2 (Optional units: Employability Skills). Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title. For full details see list of barred units.
Units
A minimum of 14 credits must be completed from this group.
Assist in the Assembly and Presentation of Visual Merchandising Displays
Being Security Conscious in a Retail Environment
Comply With Workplace Health and Safety Requirements in a Retail Environment
Contribute to Monitoring and Maintaining Ease of Shopping in a Retail Sales Area
Displaying Merchandise
Handling Cash Payments
Handling Money in a Sales Situation
Handling Stock in a Retail Environment
Keep Stock at Required Levels in a Retail Environment
Keep the Non-Food Retail Environment Clean and Tidy
Keeping the Work Area Clean and Tidy in a Retail Environment
Labelling Goods
Load Orders for Despatch from a Retail Store to Customers
Maintain Food Safety While Working with Food in a Retail Environment
Move Goods and Materials Manually in a Retail Environment
Product Pricing and Labelling
Recognise and Report Security Risks in a Retail Environment
Sort Donated Goods for Resale or Recycling in a Retail Environment
Understanding how Individuals and Teams Contribute to the Effectiveness of a Retail Business
Understanding how a Retail Business Maintains Health, Safety and Security on its Premises
Understanding the Control, Handling and Replenishment of Stock in a Retail Business
Understanding the Retail Selling Process
Work Effectively in a Retail Team
Working Safely in a Retail Environment
Working and Learning in a Retail Team
Working with Food in a Retail Environment
Wrap and Pack Goods for Customers in a Retail Environment
Wrapping and Packing Goods
A minimum of 6 credits must be completed from this group.
Working in Retail
Working with Customers in a Retail Environment
A maximum of 17 credits may be completed from this group.
Applying for a Job
Applying for a Job
Assessing own Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills
Assessing own Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills
Building Working Relationships with Colleagues
Career Planning
Career Planning
Career Progression
Career Progression
Conduct at Work
Effective Communication in the Workplace
Effective Communication in the Workplace
Effectiveness at Work
Effectiveness at Work
Exploring Entrepreneurship
Exploring Entrepreneurship
Exploring and Presenting Enterprise Ideas
Exploring and Presenting Enterprise Ideas
Health and Safety in the Workplace
Health and Safety in the Workplace
Interview Skills
Interview Skills
Introduction to Self-Employment
Introduction to Self-Employment
Learning from Work Placement
Learning from Work Placement
Positive Attitudes and Behaviours at Work
Preparing for Work Placement
Preparing for Work Placement
Preparing for an Interview
Preparing for an Interview
Safe Learning in the Workplace
Safe Learning in the Workplace
Searching for a Job
Searching for a Job
Self-Management Skills
Setting and Meeting Targets at Work
Setting and Meeting Targets at Work
Skills for Creative Thinkers
Skills for Creative Thinkers
Skills for Effective Participants
Skills for Effective Participants
Skills for Independent Enquirers
Skills for Independent Enquirers
Skills for Reflective Learners
Skills for Reflective Learners
Skills for Self Managers
Skills for Self Managers
Skills for Team Workers
Skills for Team Workers
Solving Work-Related Problems
Solving Work-related Problems
Time Management
Using ICT in the Workplace
Using ICT in the Workplace
Using Numeracy Skills in the Workplace
Using Numeracy Skills in the Workplace
Working in a Team
Working in a Team
Working with Colleagues
What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification is suitable if you are looking for an extended introduction, at Entry level, to the retail sector. It will be of specific relevance to:
• Young people interested in a career in the retail sector who intend to access level 1 qualifications but will need a fairly extensive learning programme before they are ready to do so
• Young people and adults with little or no prior attainment, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, who wish to work in the retail sector but need a fairly extensive grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills, over an extended period of time, before applying for work.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification provides you with a wide range of basic, introductory skills, as well as core knowledge, relevant to retail, alongside generic employability skills which are needed both in the retail sector and across other sectors. You must take the two mandatory units below:
• Working in Retail
• Working with Customers in a Retail Environment
Optional units include knowledge and skills relevant to different job roles in the sector (such as food safety, stock handling, handling money) alongside generic employability skills (such as self-management skills and working in at team).
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is part of a suite which includes an Award, Certificate and Diploma. You should take the Diploma if before progressing to employment (with further training where possible) or to a Level 1 qualification, you need an extended introduction to the sector including the opportunity to build up a range of skills and knowledge, explore a number of potential job roles in the sector, and gain a set of more generic workplace skills. The Diploma will be suitable if you would benefit from an extended period of time working at Entry level, up to 2 years, before moving onto Level 1.
Which sector does this qualification support?
You could progress from this qualification to an entry-level role in retail such as retail or sales assistant.
What are the progression options?
You can progress to a Level 1 certificate or diploma in retail, including Gateway Qualifications’ Level 1 Certificate and Diploma in Skills for Retail.
Progression & entry requirements
You do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification. It is available to learners of any age.Funding information
There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.
The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).
View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you to deliver this qualification.