• Applicants must be 18 years or older to obtain a place on the programme.

• Grade O6/H7 or above in 5 Leaving Certificate subjects (including Maths F2/06/H7 along with English or Irish 06/H7) or a full QQI Level 5 or higher qualification.

• Mature applicants aged 21 years and with 3 years relevant retail work experience.

• International applicants must present the equivalent of a full Level 5 qualification or higher. Learners for whom English is not the first language must demonstrate proficiency in English. Applicants should achieve a minimum of a grade B2 in the Oxford English Test or equivalent in other recognized English Tests.

• Recognition of Prior Learning will also be considered as part of entry requirements.

The programme will be delivered in Dublin and Galway with a maximum intake of 120 apprentices per annum (60 Dublin and 60 Galway).

Apprentices will attend 23-24 (24 days Year 1 and 23 days Year 2) classroom days per year. The programme will deliver one module at a time between September and June (typically 2-3 days per month 10am-5pm).

For example, in October the Communications for Retail module will be delivered over three days. Then the Retail Customer Experience module will be delivered over three days in November and so on.

• At the beginning of the programme, apprentices will attend 3 day induction training to prepare them for the apprenticeship.

• The programme will be delivered from 10:00am-5:00pm in Griffith College, Dublin and Galway Business School, Galway.

• In addition, the Apprentice will engage in 2 hours of weekly directed online learning for each module (live and recorded sessions).

• As an Apprenticeship Programme, learning in the workplace is an extremely important component in developing the Apprentice’s knowledge and skills.

Year 1

Retail Professional Selling

Retail Customer Experience

Retail IT

Communications for Retail

Legal Issues in Retail

Safety, Health and Welfare

Retail Supervision

 

Year 2

Retail Pharmacy

Food Safety Operations and HACCP

Retail Merchandising

Retail Security and Loss Prevention

Financial Information for Decision-Making

Compulsory Omni Channel Marketing

Compulsory Retail Supervision 2

Compulsory Capstone Module

• Good Communication Skills
• Ability to use Communication Technology
• Customer Service Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Digital Marketing Skills
• ICT Skills
• Professionalism
• People Management Skills

Retail assistants are expected to be able to perform a wide variety of tasks in an increasingly challenging work environment. Typical tasks / responsibilities include the following:

• Managing customer interactions

• Sales and customer care

• Communicating with various stakeholders (e.g. colleagues, suppliers, customers and management)

• Stock and cash control procedures

• Security

• Retail display

• Promote and maintain health and safety in the workplace • Marketing / digital marketing

• Understanding and using relevant technology • Portraying a professional manner at all times

 

The Retail Sector in general includes the following subsectors:

• Department stores
• Grocery stores
• DIY & hardware
• Pet & garden stores
• Pharmacy
• Furniture, lighting and Homeware
• Booksellers
• Entertainment, electrical & technology stores
• Supermarket and convenience stores
• Fuel
• Fashion and Footwear
• Small family independent stores

Apprentices that successfully complete the programme can access year 2 in a number of business-related degree programmes including the Retail Management Degree programme delivered by LYIT on conjunction with RIS in Dublin.

Upon successful completion of this Apprenticeship programme, apprentices may wish to progress their studies. Retail Ireland Skillnet in conjunction with Letterkenny Institute of Technology deliver a work-based learning part-time Degree in Retail Management Practice for existing and aspiring retail managers.

Apprentices will be eligible to access Year 2 of this three-year programme which is delivered on average 2 days per month normally Tuesdays and Wednesdays between September and May (with no class during busy retail months such as December).This programme is 50% funded by Retail Ireland Skillnet and is delivered in Dublin. - This means the learner can obtain an apprenticeship and a degree within 4 years.

Upon successful completion of this Apprenticeship programme, apprentices may wish to progress their studies. Retail Ireland Skillnet in conjunction with Letterkenny Institute of Technology deliver a work- based learning part-time Degree in Retail Management for existing and aspiring retail managers. Apprentices will be eligible to access Year 2 of this three-year programme which is delivered on average two days per month – normally Tuesdays and Wednesdays between September and May (with no class during busy retail months such as December and January).

This programme is 50% funded by Retail Ireland Skillnet and is delivered in Dublin. To find out more information about the Degree in Retail Management or to apply please visit www.retailirelandskillnet.com.

Note: People in employment have a number of options for both Educational and Career Progression. It might also be possible to gain promotion within your existing company.  By using your existing qualifications and your experience you might to able to secure an alternative position in a more senior role in another company. It may also be possible to set up your own company based again on your existing qualifications and experience.  Whatever route you decide to take remember education is a lifelong pursuit and you can always continue to up skill and/or retrain, whatever your age.  Links to some educational and enterprise supports can be found below.    

Career Progression Useful Links:  

Educational Supports:  

On completion of an apprenticeship your educational progression options may be offered as full awards on the NFQ levels 7-10 National Framework .  You may also decide to embark on a partial award or to up skill in a particular area by undertaking a short specialised course.  

Depending on your skills, knowledge and experience some of the opportunities below might be appropriate to help develop your Career pathway.   

• Springboard & conversion courses  
• Skillnet Sector learning network courses
• Skills to advance Local ETB Board
• Further education training centres Fetchcourses
• Post graduate education Search Post Graduate options

Enterprise and Self-Employment Support:

On completion of anapprenticeship if you feel you have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience you may decide to set up your own business. The links below might be useful to support you:

• Local Enterprise Offices, For profit Local enterprise support
• Local Area partnerships For profit enterprise support
• Social entrepreneurs: Not-for-profit enterprise support
• Franchising: Developing your business under an established franchise

The Apprenticeship in Retail Supervision is designed for people already working in retail seeking managerial roles in their organisation. Retail employees cannot directly apply for this Apprenticeship programme.

To find an apprenticeship, you can search apprenticeship vacancies and a list of currently approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal. You can search for vacancies by location, and employers in each apprenticeship.

Use this link to explore a list of Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship type.

All applications must come directly from the retailer, as apprentices must be sponsored for the duration of the two-year programme.

School leavers and career switchers wishing to apply for the programme must have secured employment with a retailer willing to sponsor you for the duration of the programme.

For an employer to get approved to train apprentices in a particular occupation, s/he must demonstrate that they have the capacity and the ability to provide quality, relevant on-the-job training to apprentices as per the requirements of the national apprenticeship programme and the statutory apprenticeship system overall.

To gain approval, the employer should contact an Authorised Officer (AO) from the local Education and Training Board (ETB) who carries out a site visit where the employer is formally assessed.

The AO makes a recommendation to SOLAS on the employer’s suitability to deliver the programme. If the employer is not initially approved, the AO will work with the employer to identify what requirements remain to be met and the employer can be re-assessed.

Finding an employer and securing your apprenticeship

Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.

Online Jobsites

Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.

Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.

For this Retail Supervisor apprenticeship, the employer pays the apprentice for the duration of the apprenticeship. The rate of pay is agreed between the employer and the apprentice.

Apprentices are not required to pay a student contribution for this apprenticeship.