What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification is suitable for learners who need a broad, introductory level 2 course in retail. It will be of specific relevance to:
• Young people, aged 16 and over, interested in a career in the retail sector who intend, but are not yet ready, to access level 3 qualifications or an advanced apprenticeship
• Learners over the age of 16, usually with prior attainment at level 1 and below, including those who have had a significant break from or disjointed experience of education, who wish to work in the retail sector but need a broad grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills before applying for work.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification provides you with a range of 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 following mandatory units:
• Understanding the Retail Sector
• Working in a Retail Team
• Understanding customer service in the retail sector
Optional units include knowledge and skills relevant to different job roles in the sector (such as merchandising displays, packing goods, labelling products) alongside generic employability skills (such as leadership skills and setting and meeting targets at work).
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is part of a suite which includes an Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma. Learners should take the Certificate if they need a broad introduction to the sector, as well as more generic workplace skills, before progressing to employment (with further training where possible), to a level 3 Apprenticeship or to a Level 3 qualification, as illustrated in the target learner profiles provided above.
The Certificate may also be the most appropriate size of qualification if learners have not yet achieved Level 2 English and maths and need to include significant learning time for these subjects within your learning programme.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification could lead to a number of roles in retail such as retail assistant, customer service adviser, sales adviser or assistant store manager.
What are the progression options?
The learner can progress to a Level 3 certificate or diploma in retail in any of the available pathways, including Tech level qualifications, or to an advanced Apprenticeship in Retail in any of the available pathways.
Progression & entry requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification. However, you will benefit from having English and maths skills at level 1. The qualification is available to learners aged 16 and over.
