Retailer

a retail assistant helping a male customer choose a television

Retailer
Overview

Role
Retailer
Level
2
Overview of Role
Helping customers buy products or services from retail organisations such as department stores, garden centres, high street chains, supermarkets and online and mail order businesses.
Reference
ST0327
Duration
14 Months (12 months Practical Period of Training + 2 months for End Point Assessment)
Locations
Shops, Small Boutiques, Large High Street Chains, Supermarkets and other well known department stores are just some examples. More specialist retailers include funeral services, garden centres, delicatessens and people who work in remote environments for example in telephone, on-line and mail order retail.
End Point Assessment (Awarding Organisation)
Highfield logo
Start Date
Flexible around the needs of the business
Progression
This apprenticeship provides an ideal stepping stone into specialist, team leading, supervisory or first line management roles within retail and higher level training and apprenticeships.
Maximum Price

£5000

Prices are negotiable depending on the nature of the delivery model agreed.

Visit our Apprenticeship Funding page to see your options for funding.

Retailer
Learning Goals

Apprentices will learn

  • Retail principles and practices - including brand standards, building rapport and customer loyalty
  • Business principles, standards and practices - including achieving targets, brand value and marketing and promotion
  • Sales and promotion principles and techniques - increasing sales, repeat business and sales opportunities
  • Customer service principles and practices - including customer profiles, dealing with customers and meeting expectations
  • Customer communication - including active listening, face-to-face, online, telephone and written communication
  • Health and safety practices, standards and legislation within a retail environment

Retailer
Content

Customer
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know the customer profile of the business, appropriate methods for communicating with customers e.g. face to face and remotely, what customers’ purchasing habits are, how to support and increase sales, encourage customer loyalty and achieve repeat business. Positively interact with customers, using business relevant methods for example face to face or on-line, to support and increase sales by providing useful information and service. Adopt an approachable and friendly manner, interacting with customers in line with the style of the business, showing a genuine interest in meeting their needs and actively seeking feedback to improve own quality of service provision.
Business
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know the vision, objectives and brand standards of the business and how to contribute towards their success. Establish a good rapport with customers, serve them in line with brand standards and promote the values of the business in all work activities. Demonstrate personal drive and a positive regard for the reputation and aim of the business.
Financial
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Understand the principles of operating commercially and supporting the overall financial performance of the business for example by aiming to exceed targeted sales and reduce wastage and returns. Deliver a sales service that meets customers’ needs and balances the financial performance of the business for example working towards sales targets, following procedures relating to packing of goods and dealing with returned products. Act credibly and with integrity on all matters that affect financial performance.
Marketing
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know how the business positions itself in order to increase its market share and compete against its main competitors for example its unique selling points, its straplines, promotions and advertising campaigns. Influence customers’ purchasing decisions by providing accurate guidance on product and price comparisons and sharing knowledge on local offers and variances. Take an interest in the position of the business within the wider industry.
Communication
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know how to identify and determine individuals’ situation and needs and how to respond in the most appropriate way in line with the business culture (for example the difference in how a branded goods retailer would communicate to their customers would be very different from an individual that retails a funeral service, or someone that needs to convey highly technical product information). Use effective methods of communication that achieve the desired result, according to the purchasing process e.g. face to face, via the telephone or on-line. Take a positive interest in customers, actively listening or taking due care to understand written or on-line communications and respond appropriately.
Sales and Promotion
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Understand the sales opportunities that exist across the year within the business and industry and the need to know customers’ buying habits during these periods, seasonal product / service knowledge, and stock requirements at different times of the year. Use a variety of sales techniques when providing customers with information that are appropriate to the business and actively sell the benefits of seasonal offers for example, through in-store or on-line promotions. Pro-actively seek ways of enhancing sales whilst being sensitive to the needs of the customer and encourage team members to do the same.
Product and Service
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know information on the brands, products and services as required by the business (for example in large retailers a general knowledge of a range of products and services may be needed, but in specialist outlets a detailed knowledge on the technical specification of a product and the aftercare service may be necessary). Help match products and services to customers’ needs and increase the amount they spend for example through the sale of associated products and services. Confidently demonstrate a belief in the products and services the business offers.
Brand Reputation
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know and understand the importance of brand and business reputation and what can affect it. Respond to situations that threaten brand and business reputation in line with company policy and alert the relevant person if a threat is identified. Uphold and personally demonstrate a positive brand and business reputation at all times.
Merchandising
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Understand how increase sales through product placement by utilising ‘hot spots’ and recognising the relationship between sales and space. Actively use techniques to optimise sales through effective product placement, ensuring product displays remain attractive, appealing and safe to customers. Make recommendations for merchandising as necessary to enhance sales and customer satisfaction.
Stock
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know how to maintain appropriate levels of the right stock to meet customer demand, taking into account planned marketing activities and expected seasonal variations and the conditions they must be stored in. Maintain appropriate levels of the right stock to meet customer demand, ensure it is kept in the correct condition (for example correct temperature, environment, packaging), and minimise stock loss through accurate administration, minimising wastage and theft. Take ownership and responsibility to identify stock issues and take action to address them.
Technical
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know how to operate technology such as customer payments and understand how changing technology, for example social media, digital and multichannel tools, support the sale of products and facilitates an effective and efficient service to customers. Use technology appropriately and efficiently in line with company policy, to support sales and service ensuring that maintenance issues are dealt with promptly. Embrace the use of technology, use it responsibly and take an interest in new developments, for example in social media, that could support the business.
Team
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know how to support and influence the team positively, recognising how all colleagues and teams are dependent on each other to meet business objectives. Support team members to ensure that the services provided are of a high quality, delivered on time and as required. Demonstrate pride in own role through a consistently positive and professional approach, and be aware of the impact of personal behaviour within the team.
Performance
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Understand how personal performance contributes to the success of the business for example the sale of products and services, increasing sales and achieving customer loyalty. Challenge personal methods of working and actively implement improvements. Take responsibility for own performance, learning and development, striving to accomplish the best results and take a flexible and adaptable approach to work.
Legal and Governance
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Recognise and understand legislative responsibilities relating to the business and the products and/or services being sold (for example the importance of food safety for food retailers), the importance of protecting peoples’ health, safety and security, and the consequences of not following legal guidelines. Comply with legal requirements to minimise risk and inspire customer confidence; minimising disruption to the business and maintaining the safety and security of people at all times. Work with integrity in an honest and trustworthy manner putting personal safety and that of others first.
Diversity
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Understand how to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures and recognise how local demographics can impact on the product range of the business. Put people at ease in all matters helping them to feel welcome and supported and provide them with information that is relevant to their needs. Operate in an empathic, fair and professional manner.
Environment
Knowledge
(Know it)
Skills
(Show it)
Behaviour
(Live it)
Know how to take responsible decisions to minimise negative effects on the environment in all work activities. Minimise the effect of work activities on the environment through managing wastage and loss according to business procedures. Demonstrate personal commitment to minimising the effect of work activities on the environment and make recommendations for improvement if identified.

Transferable Skills

Before taking their end-point assessment apprentices must: * achieve level 1 English and maths (equivalent to GCSEs at grades D to G) * take the test for level 2 English and maths (equivalent to GCSEs at grades A* to C).

Retailer Apprenticeship Vacancies

Live Retailer Apprenticeship Vacancies

Sorry, we have no current apprentice vacancies available.

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Our Apprenticeship Vacancy Process

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If you are wishing to become an apprentice please click on the appropriate vacancy below for a brief overview of the role and there will be a link at the bottom for further details and how to apply.

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