You know the type- the gormless supervisor with the personality of a fish, or even worse, the sales assistant who just won’t leave you alone! Well if you think retail is your forte and you have a real passion to sell products and services to customers, then an apprenticeship in retail may just be your therapy!
Retail includes a vast range of businesses, from small independent shops to nationwide chains and superstores. There is also a wide number of different product areas, from fashion and furniture, to markets and mail order. Skills learnt in retail are transferable so once you qualify you can work anywhere in this sector.
Different organizations will require diverse duties from an apprentice. You could be working in a high street store assisting customers on the sales floor, dealing with their purchases, or you could even be creating displays and learning the vital aspects of management. In contrast, a specialist department may require your services; you then develop an extensive knowledge of particular products, making you a delight for customers when they enquire about these products. Retail apprenticeships allow you to develop transferable skills, which are applicable to all retail companies, so you will never be lumbered only working within one type of service or product.
Once completing an apprenticeship in retail there is the opportunity to move on to an advanced apprenticeship where the training will focus on a more specific role to gain greater skills in your preferred speciality. You will also handle more responsibility and gain important management skills which will serve you well in a variety of product areas. Completing an advanced apprenticeship could see you supervising your own store and implementing your own ideas to make it successful.
In order to be a success in retail, Notgoingtouni.co.uk believes you must be enthusiastic, mature, confident and responsible; this is because you will need to be able to deal with the many different situations that will arise. This could be shortage of staff, managing staff, shop lifters and the much feared nightmare customers. Your appearance must be presentable; it must be consistent with the image that the retailer wishes to present to their customers.
The UK’s retail sector has a young workforce, is vibrant and offers many opportunities for early career progression – after you are qualified you can earn a salary from 11k-15k. The retail environment can be exciting but testing so be sure you are ready to take on the challenge. If you think you can tick all of the above boxes then an apprentice in retail is for you.
Notgoingtouni guides young adults with their future by showing jobs and training that exist outside of university. It contains apprenticeships, distance learning, foundation degrees, gap years and voluntary work as well as ways to get a sponsored degree. Go to the site for free career guides and over 300 videos.