Retail industry overview and career opportunities

Transcription

1 Retail industry overview and career opportunities Speaker Date Jane Rexworthy 15 May 2012

2 UK Retail: Key facts and figures 2012 The established definition of retail is the junction between production and consumption Retail continues to be the UK s largest private sector employer with 2.77 million employees The UK s top 75 retailers employ two-thirds of the total workforce, while there are around 150,000 sole traders operating in the sector Despite the recession, the turnover of the retail sector in 2011 was 343 billion, which equates to 8% of UK s GVA There are 188,000 retail enterprises, operating in around 286,000 retail establishments across the UK

3 Number of retail establishments Nation Number of retail establishments % England 239, Scotland 23,825 8 Wales 13,670 5 Northern Ireland 9,735 3 Total 286,

4 Retail in Scotland 14,155 business operating in nearly 24,000 outlets 12% of all Scottish businesses are retail 80% of Scottish retailers employ less than ten employees 1% of Scottish retailers employ more than 250 employees 240,000 people work in Scottish retail 45% work full-time and 55% work part-time 28% of employees are male and 62% female Over a third (36%) are years old 7% are over 60 years old 6% of Scottish retailers are BAME

5 Retail in Scotland cont.. Main skills lacking in Scottish retail workforce from the owner/managers perspective: Problem solving skills (56%) Customer handling skills (54%) Team working (50%) The Glasgow retail location brings in the largest consumer expenditure in Scotland per year ( 2.6billion in 2010) Scotland as a whole has an overall vacancy rate of just over 12%: Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow are 13.4%, 11.4% and 17.8% respectively Paisley, for example, has a shop vacancy rate of 23.5%, but Livingston s is only 11.3% (Current UK national average vacancy rate from LDC is 14.5%)

6 Pay scales in retail Scotland UK Retail All Sectors Retail All Sectors All Part-time Full-time

7 Careers advisors perceptions of retail (UK) Retail develops skills useful in any workplace (88%) Retail offers a wide range of opportunities for people of all ages (84%) Retail offers individuals responsibility at an early stage (73%) Retail is an employee friendly sector where employees are treated with respect (66%) Retail generally has competent and effective managers (64%) Retail offers top quality training and career development (63%)

8 Careers within retail Careers guidance is available to young people from a number of different sources in the UK Unique to Scotland is that career guidance practitioners work within publicly-funded agencies, including Careers Scotland, rather than within the schooling system itself Many town centres are now recognising the need to grow new business in their high streets, there is real opportunity for Business Enterprise In the UK 53% of under graduates would consider starting up a business, with 63% in Scotland considering this as a career option Careers in retail - from retail finance director to sales advisor the opportunities are diverse and varied

9 National Skills Academy for Retail s vision Driving up skills in retail Within five years create a national network of up to 70 retail skills shops which will: Provide access to world-class skills and business support for retailers whatever their size, wherever they are located Lead the drive for professional rewarding careers and skills development for everyone who works in retail Create a consistent national approach for training and skills in the UK's largest private industry sector

10 Northern Ireland skills shop network 3 5 Scottish skills shop network Edinburgh Skills Shop West Lothian Skills Shop Fife Skills Shop Grampian Skills Shop Highlands Islands and Moray Skills Shop English skills shop network Welsh skills shop network 3 45

11 Supporting young people in retail careers The network of skills shops in Scotland Provide information, advice and guidance Work ready programmes Retail Works, WorldHost Modern Apprenticeships Retail Therapy The Institute for Retail Continuing Professional Development

12 Retailers delivering Apprenticeships ALDI TK Maxx Halfords Debenhams Dunelm Mill JJB Sports Midland Co-operative National Market Traders Federation Association of Convenience Stores e.g. Spar AF Blakemore

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