R E TA I L M A N A G E R L E V E L 4 A P P R E N T I C E S H I P

O V E R V I E W

R E T A I L M A N A G E R L E V E L 4 A P P R E N T I C E S H I P O V E R V I E W

The Retail Manager Apprenticeship Level 4 is for anyone aspiring to lead a larger retail team or even manage other managers.

On completion, learners will show excellent leadership skills, in depth knowledge of the current market place and how this effects their organisation.

Delivering sales targets

Coaching and encouraging team

members

Enhance business performance

Excelling at creating positive experiences

for customers

Key responsibilities may include:Managing finances Team development

Benefits of the apprenticeship:

Those in a management position in a Retail environment. Suitable for those looking to progress into more senior roles such as Senior Retail Manager or Area Manager.

This standard is suitable for:

Cost effective use of resources

Robust processes

Understanding external factors and using this

to increase revenue

Adapting merchandising principles

Ability to encourage team development through effective training and guidance.

Developing confidence to implementing change within your organisation

P R O G R A M M E M O D U L E S

The delivery model is broken down over 12 topics:

Manage Development of Self and Others

Customer, Team and Management Communication

Strategic Direction

Manage Brand Reputation Lead, Influence and Challenge a Team The Marketing Strategy

Sales, Promotion, Products and Services

Recruit, Retain and Develop a Team

Managing Stock and Merchandising

TechnologyManage Legislation, Governance and Inclusion

Managing Finanacial Operations

P R O G R A M M E D E L I V E R Y

Programme Length

15 months (on average) 3 month End-point Assessment (EPA)

Delivery MethodProgramme delivered via 1-1 face to face visits in the workplace

Blended Learning:

Face to face: Learners are visited in the workplace every 4-6 weeks

Self Study: Learners expected to carry out self-study using Lifetime’s social learning platform, MyLife

Remote Visits: Carried out between the learner and their Regional Trainer

Contact: Learners have access to their Regional Trainer via the Learner Portal, email, telephone and MyLife

P R A C T I C E A S S E S S M E N T S

Projects and evaluations will be completed throughout the programme to prepare for the EPA. The projects cover the following topics and will run as follows:

Business Success: Visit 2-6 Sales: Visit 6-9

Diversity: Visit 13-14

Performance and Profitability: Visit 11-12

Your Retail Business Project: Visit 14-15

L E A R N , S H A R E A N D A P P LY – E X A M P L E R E S O U R C E S

Interactive Activities

Video

Interactive Worksheets

Audio

R E TA I L M A N A G E R L E V E L 4

E N D - P O I N TA S S E S S M E N T

E P A C R I T E R I A

READINESS FOR EPA EPA CRITERIA WEIGHTINGS HOW IT IS DELIVERED KEY INFORMATION

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS English and Maths Functional Skills must be achieved at Level 1 and the test taken for Level 2. (No requirement for ICT).

GATEWAY DISCUSSION Training provider, learner and employer have a face to face gateway conversation to all verify they are in agreement that the learner is ready for EPA to begin.

EPA READINESS FORM Completed and sent to Innovate to allow for planning meeting to take place.

PLANNING MEETING scheduled with Innovate’s End Point Assessor, learner and employer.

Planning Meeting. N/A

PLANNING MEETING – Held with employer, learner and End Point Assessor to build relationship, answer any questions and discuss the requirements and plans for the EPA activities and to schedule future meetings. The assessor will check that the proposed project synopsis (two pages maximum) covers the appropriate criteria.

The maximum length of the assessment is 4 months and the results are distinction, pass or fail.

Should an learner fail one assessment activity this should be retaken as soon as the learner is ready and practicable for the business – the re-sit is normally expected to take place after all the required assessments have been taken.

Should they fail 2 or more activities a period of retraining is required. A maximum of 2 retakes per assessment activity is allowed.

When re-taking an assessment the maximum grade available is a pass. The ESFA will provide the certificate and Innovate will provide individual certificates for each section achieved of the EPA. Assessments must be taken in order.

Written Exam

Not clearly specified in Assess plan – IAO to confirm in specs

WRITTEN EXAM – 2 hours with 5 minutes reading time at start, accompanied by short and extended answer questions. Completed at workplace or in an appropriate assessment centre. Contains a minimum of 2 extended answers and 6 short answers.

Learner will need to attain circa 60% to pass and 85% to achieve distinction. If the learner does not achieve this percentage after 2 attempts, it is an automatic fail and the learner will not be able to do the next stages of the EPA. One free resit at no extra cost.

Retail Business Project Presentation

Not clearly specified in Assess plan – IAO to confirm in specs

RETAIL BUSINESS PROJECT PRESENTATION – 30 min presentation of a completed project with opportunity for Q’s and A’s and review of supporting information. Employer can be present but cannot interact in process. Supporting evidence required to show completion of underpinning activities together with project must be submitted 5 days prior to presentation.

Must be based around a strategic challenge, opportunity or idea within their retail environment (at strategic level). Preparation with employer (line manager) should start one month prior to end assessment. Project must be presented within 4 month window. The grading decision will be made at the end of the presentation against pass and distinction criteria.

Professional Discussion.

Not clearly specified in Assess plan – IAO to confirm in specs

PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION – One hour discussion in a controlled environment between the learner and assessor, with up to 5 days prior notice to discuss the programme, learning received, and development of the learner. The learner may bring any materials to support competency. Employer can be present but cannot lead. This is marked using a criteria based standard scoring template, and the grade given is the final decision.

Led by the independent End Point Assessor, involving the learner and employer as support. Discussion needs to be planned with learner at least 5 days prior and should not duplicate criteria previously passed in the test or project presentation. The gradng decision will be made at the end of the discussion against pass and distinction criteria. To achieve either, all criteria must be gained at the relevant level.

E P A J O U R N E Y

GradingFail/pass/

distinction

ON-PROGRAMME LEARNING

PLANNING MEETING

WRITTEN EXAM

RETAIL BUSINESS PROJECT

PRESENTATION

PROFESSIONAL DISCUSSION

GRADING AND DETERMINATION

ESFA CERTIFICATION

GATEWAY

Retail business project

presentation30 minute

presentation

Planning meeting with the apprentice,

training provider,employer and

End-point Assessor

Written exam 2 hour

exam with short and extended

answer questions

Requirement for Gateway

Level 2 Literacy and Numeracy

Minimum 12 months

on-programme learning

Professional discussion

1 hour discussion

Must be completed in this order