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Retail & Customer Service

Retail Manager

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Primary Secondary Post-16

Retail managers are responsible for the day-to-day running of stores or departments, ensuring customers have a positive shopping experience and that sales targets are met. Duties include supervising staff, managing stock levels, organising displays, handling customer queries or complaints, and overseeing financial processes such as budgeting and sales analysis. The role requires strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and the ability to motivate a team. Retail managers also play a key part in hiring, training, and developing staff, as well as implementing company policies and dealing with suppliers. This career can be fast-paced and involves a mix of office and shop floor work.

Retail Manager

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Retail managers in the UK typically earn between £20,000 and £40,000 per year, with those in large stores or with significant experience earning up to £50,000.

Employment Numbers

There are approximately 250,000 retail managerial positions in the UK, spanning supermarkets, high street shops, and department stores.

Typical Working Hours

Retail managers usually work 37 to 40 hours per week, often including weekends and bank holidays.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Store Manager

Oversees the daily operations of a specific retail store, managing staff, handling customer service issues, and ensuring sales targets are met.

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Visual Merchandising Manager

Focuses on planning and organising product displays and store layouts to attract customers and drive sales.

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Retail Department Supervisor

Leads a particular section or department within a larger retail store, supervising team members and ensuring stock levels and customer service standards are maintained.

Gain Retail Experience

Start in an Entry-Level Retail Role

Begin your career by working as a sales assistant or cashier in a retail environment to learn the basics.

Entry-level positions such as sales assistant, cashier, or stockroom worker provide a solid understanding of retail operations. You'll develop customer service skills, learn how to handle stock, and become familiar with the day-to-day running of a shop. These roles often require no formal qualifications, making them accessible to school leavers.

Learn Customer Service Skills

Focus on developing excellent customer service and communication skills through daily interactions.

Retail managers must be able to resolve issues, answer questions, and ensure customers have a positive experience. Take every opportunity to practice clear communication, patience, and problem-solving while working with customers. These abilities are essential for progressing to supervisory roles.

Develop Supervisory Skills

Take on More Responsibility

Seek out opportunities to supervise colleagues, train new staff, or take charge of small tasks.

Many retailers offer in-store training or allow staff to shadow supervisors. Express your interest in helping with rotas, training, or opening and closing procedures. Demonstrating reliability and initiative can lead to promotion to team leader or supervisor.

Complete Retail Qualifications

Consider studying for retail or management qualifications while working.

Qualifications such as an NVQ or BTEC in Retail Skills or Retail Management can enhance your CV and show your commitment to a management career. Some employers may even support you through an apprenticeship or provide in-house training.

Step Into Management

Apply for Assistant Manager or Manager Positions

Use your experience and qualifications to move into an assistant manager or manager role.

With experience and relevant qualifications, you can apply for assistant manager or store manager jobs. Responsibilities include supervising staff, managing budgets, analysing sales figures, and ensuring high standards of customer service. Some larger retailers offer graduate management schemes for those with a degree.

Continue Professional Development

Stay up to date with the latest retail trends and continue developing your skills.

Successful retail managers continually improve their leadership, merchandising, and technology skills. You may join professional bodies like the Institute of Sales Management or attend courses and conferences to keep learning and progressing in your career.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Retail Manager. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

No career progressions found for

Sample Qualifications

The role of a Retail Manager most closely matches the Retail Buyer because both are involved in managing retail operations, overseeing sales performance, and making purchasing decisions to optimise store stock and profitability. They share skills related to inventory management, vendor relationships, and understanding customer needs within the retail environment.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • a company training scheme

University

You could do a degree before applying to join an organisation's management training scheme. Most subjects are accepted but you may have an advantage if you study:

  • retail management
  • retail marketing
  • business management

It's useful to get some experience in retail during your studies. You can do this through part-time retail jobs, internships and year placement schemes.

Your university careers service can help you find suitable opportunities.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

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College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.

Relevant subjects include:

  • management
  • retail management
  • management skills and knowledge

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

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Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship.

Relevant apprenticeships include:

  • Team Leader Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Retail Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Retail Leadership Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

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Work

You may be able to start as a retail sales assistant and work your way up through promotion to supervisor or department manager.

You could also get into this job by switching from a managerial post in a related industry, like customer service. You would be given training in retail to build on your existing management experience.

Other Routes

Many national retailers run trainee management schemes. Some ask for a degree to apply.

Schemes combine training and mentoring with work placements in different parts of the business to develop your retail knowledge, skills and leadership qualities.

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