Doing an Intermediate Apprenticeship in fashion retail

Emma Finamore
Last updated 21 Jan 2019

Explore the apprenticeship options available in fashion retail, for those wanting to complete an Intermediate Apprenticeship.

There are many fashion retail apprenticeships available at Intermediate Apprenticeship level, sitting within the government’s retail and commercial enterprise framework.

Fashion retail Intermediate Apprenticeships: skills

A fashion retail apprenticeship is designed to develop the skills of new or existing employees. From organising displays to learning crucial aspects of management, the skills gained from the Fashion Retail Apprenticeship are transferrable to all retail companies. The UK’s retail sector is vibrant and offers many opportunities for career progression.

Training will include specific units on the fashion retail market, fashion trends and forecasting, fashion retail personal shopping and styling and visual merchandising.

Core units of study consist of how a retail business maintains health and safety good practice, the retail selling process, customer service and working effectively as a team.

There are currently skills shortages to meet these needs and a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship will provide you with a basic understanding of the sector and training to meet the needs of the specialist employer in the fashion retail environment. You could study towards qualifications like: ABC level 2 Certificate in Retail Knowledge; ABC Certificate in Retail Skills; Level 1 Functional Skills in Maths and English.

Fashion retail Intermediate Apprenticeships: job roles

At Intermediate Apprenticeship level, you could work in job roles like:

· Sales assistant

· Stockroom assistant

· Visual merchandiser

Fashion retail Intermediate Apprenticeships: qualifications

A fashion retail apprenticeship at this level could lead to an Advanced Apprenticeship (a Level 3 apprenticeship) in Retail Skills (VM), a Fashion Level 3 Diploma, a Fashion Retail Level 4, a Diploma in Buying and Merchandising for Retail Level 4; Diploma Visual Merchandising.

Fashion retail Intermediate Apprenticeships: career progression

Possible future job roles for those completing Intermediate Apprenticeships in fashion retail include positions like store assistant, trainee manager, personal shopper, stylist, and visual merchandiser.

As with all apprenticeships, fashion retail Intermediate Apprenticeships will involve a combination of paid work and assessed training, with a training provider such as a further education college, all while being paid a proper wage.

Image courtesy of Bench Accounting