Retail and Commercial Enterprises

The retail sector is the UK’s largest private employment sector and employs around three million people, which equates to one in ten of the working population.

Retailers often have a dilemma about whether to promote from within or to recruit people who have already obtained higher levels of formal qualifications. Research shows that over half the managers who work in the retail sector have no formal Higher Education qualifications (over Level 3).

The Retail and Commercial Enterprises Curriculum Group encompasses 10 Further Education colleges and 4 Higher Education Institutions from the HI-LLN members and includes all courses within the relevant departments at each of these institutions.

This group meets regularly to discuss related issues and plan projects that will assist the progression of vocational learners. Its members consist of Basingstoke College of Technology, Brockenhurst College, Eastleigh College, Farnham College, Farnborough College of Technology, Highbury College, Isle of Wight College, Sparsholt College Hampshire, Southampton City College, Southampton Solent University, Totton College, University of Chichester, University of Portsmouth, University of Winchester from the HI-LLN members and includes all courses within the relevant departments at each of the educational institutions.

Publications

Click here for our Career Guide for Travel & Tourism (pdf)

Click here for our Career Guide for Retail & Logistics (pdf)

Click here for our Career Guide for Hair & Beauty (pdf)

Click here for the 'widening participation for retail learners' poster (pdf)

Contact

The Retail and Commercial Enterprises Curriculum Group is led by Basingstoke College of Technology. For more information contact Pauline Rachman by email at pauline.rachman@bcot.ac.uk or by telephone on 01256 306441.

Next Retail and Commercial Enterprises Curriculum Group meeting: TBC

Minutes from this group's last meeting are available here.