Retail

Despite its size and importance to the economy, retail lacks the full range of skills and qualifications associated with a modern customer-focused industry.

Figures which show that a quarter of employees lack the equivalent of an NVQ Level 2, while 40 per cent of sales staff do not have five good GCSEs and 15 in every 100 have no qualifications whatsoever.

Part of the problem is the lack of nationally-recognised retail qualifications and training programmes. As a result, many employers are unsure how to best spend their time and money on improving skills and employees receive only ad hoc training. Staff turnover is disproportionately high as employees lack clear structure in their careers.

The National Skills Academy for Retail aims to meet these challenges by developing relevant qualifications and improving access to world-class training. In this way, it will open clear career progression pathways for those working in or wanting to work in retail.