How to make your mark in retail

Do you have the flair and enthusiasm to succeed in the retail industry and just need a bit of help taking the next step? Here are a few courses to give you an idea of how you can get in and get on in retail.

Aged 14 to 16

Young Apprenticeship in Retail at Basingstoke College of Technology

Basingstoke College of Technology (BCOT) is one of a growing number of learning providers and colleges that offer the Young Apprenticeship in retail; a course that gives a real insight into working in the industry, alongside a regular school timetable.

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The two-year course is an ideal choice for young people who think that they might like to work in the industry.

Young Apprentices at Basingstoke attend their school for four days a week and BCOT one day a week for two years. At the end of the apprenticeship, students are awarded a BTEC first diploma in retail Level 2 (equivalent to a further five GCSEs at grades A* to C). The course includes a 50-day work placement with a well-known retail employer such as Marks & Spencer, Boots, TK Maxx or Homebase. This is time spent out of the classroom and in a real retail environment, widening the students' horizons as they learn about all the aspects of the industry, such as planning layouts for the store, analysing footfall, understanding visual merchandising and the different departments in head office.

Should they decide to join the retail industry at 16, this programme gives students a flying start to their career - but there are no obligations. All options remain open and young apprentices are free to continue in full-time education and take A-Levels, or even switch their career choice to something completely different.

To become a Young Apprentice in Retail, speak to your head teacher or head of year. Contact www.skillsmartretail.com to find out if there is a Young Apprenticeship option available in your area.

Aged 16 to 18

Diploma in Fashion Retail (Levels 2 and 3) at the Fashion Retail Academy (FRA), London

With its home in the heart of London's fashion district, attending The Fashion Retail Academy feels like you are stepping on to the first rung of a ladder to a successful fashion career.

The Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas in Fashion Retail - equivalent to GCSEs and A-Levels respectively - introduce students to all the practical and vocational skills needed for the challenging world of fashion retail. Selected on their flair and enthusiasm rather than academic ability, students are expected to work hard (9.30am starts most days). However, they can enjoy access to the FRA's state-of-the-art technology and support their learning through the vast resources offered by the academy's retail partners. In fact, the curriculum is largely vocational, with students spending 40 per cent of their time on work placements and attending regular master classes with industry experts.

Both diplomas are fully funded for students aged 16 to 18 and graduates have the options to go straight into work or progress on to degree courses or management training programmes within the industry.

Many professionals in the industry have welcomed the academy as an ideal route for any students keen to make a career in fashion retail.

If you are interested in attending the next Fashion Retail Academy open day, e-mail info@fashionretailacademy.ac.uk and the appropriate details will be sent to you.

Aged 18+

BSc (Hons) in Retail Management at the University of Surrey, Guildford

Against the backdrop of the historic town of Guildford, this three-year residential degree programme combines business and management skills with the specialist knowledge required to succeed in retail.

Students are given the flexibility to specialise in the subjects that most interest them, such as marketing, business finance or international retailing, with each module involving 100 hours of lectures, tutorials and personal study. Essays and assignments draw on students' understanding of their chosen specialist area, but students are also assessed on general retail skills, such as measuring performance, the role of branding, pricing strategy, quality control and consumer behaviour. This ensures that all students can become effective retail managers upon graduation.

A professional training year that offers valuable management and industry work experience is an option between the second and third years of the course. Major UK retailers, such as Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco, House of Fraser, The Body Shop, Boots, Debenhams and John Lewis Partnership participate in the scheme, but should students want to go abroad, it is also possible to undertake work experience internationally.

There is great demand for graduates of the University of Surrey's Retail Management degree, both from retail employers and other related service-sector industries. Some graduates choose to go into operational management roles but others follow their specialisms straight into marketing, buying, IT and other head office retail positions.

To apply for the BSc (Hons) Retail Management, e-mail som@surrey.ac.uk, or log on to www.som.surrey.ac.uk for further information.