The Vocational Award in Retail Business introduces learners to the world of retail and provides them with the opportunity to explore the dynamic and competitive nature of the retail industry, one of the most important employment sectors in the UK. It explores various aspects of business and investigates a range of retailers from large chains and department stores through to independent and virtual stores.

Level 1/2 Vocational Award WJEC UNIT 1 The business of retail External Examination: 40% (externally assessed). UNIT 2 Customer service for retail business Controlled Assessment: 30% (internally assessed, externally moderated). UNIT 3 Merchandising and marketing retail products Controlled Assessment: 30% (Internally assessed, externally moderated) Students are graded Pass, Merit or Distinction for this course.

At Hall Cross we follow WJEC specification. There are a range of topics which allow students to build their knowledge as they progress through the course, including;

• Unit 1 - Different types and sizes of retail businesses, aims and objectives, external factors, competitive and dynamic environments, location, seasonality or retail business.
• Unit 2 - Feature and principles of good customer service, types of customers and how to meet customer expectations, investigating customer experiences.
• Unit 3 - Visual merchandising, marketing mix and designing promotional materials.

Students could extend their qualifications at Level 3 in areas such as Business Management, Business Administration or Business Finance. The A level Business course builds upon the skills and concepts that are studied at GCSE and students would need to meet the entry requirements. The Retail Business course is ideal for students wanting to follow the apprenticeship route working in a number of environments including Accounting, Business Administration, Customer Service and Business Support. This course is suitable for a wide variety of jobs in areas such as Retail, Finance, Marketing and Human Resources. The careers this subject could lead you to is :

• Advertising Market
• Manager
• Customer Service Manage
• Personal Shopper
• Retail Buyer
• Store manager

From a Student Perspective I really enjoy studying this course, the coursework is really interesting - researching information about the importance of customer service and preparing me for the world of work. - Year 10 Student