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Retail

Retail is a significant sector in the UK labour market. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) last publicised indicator of employment assessed in 2022 there were 3.05 million jobs in UK retail that accounts to 10% of all jobs in the British economy, which is down from 2020 where there were 3.1 million jobs. Retail jobs are spread evenly around the UK forming approximately 9% of the labour market.  Retail roles are found in four domains: the shop floor, shop floor back offices, company headquarters and distribution centres. Retail Week lists the sub-sectors in retail. 

Most graduate schemes in retail are open to graduates from all disciplines with employers such LIDL open to applications from graduates with lower second-class honours degrees (2.2). Common to all graduate schemes in retail will be some rotational experience on the shop floors as way to help new employees understand the company’s culture and customer base. Lucrative graduate starting salaries can be found here such as at ALDI with graduate starting salaries of £50,000.  In the 2023-24 The Times Top 100 Graduate Employer, two retailers of Amazon and ALDI sit in the top twenty employers. University of Exeter graduates have progressed to retailer such as Amazon, Harrods, Clarks, Vodafone which demonstrate the diversity of potential recruiters in retail. 

Sector overview and areas of work

Retail encompasses any business or individual involved with selling products directly to consumers. Retail can be considered both as an industry involving selling goods and services directly to consumers and simultaneously can also be considered as a sector encompassing economic activities of distribution of goods and services to consumers, wholesale supplying of retailers with goods, distribution and logistics, and sales. 

The retail sector is the largest private sector in the UK labour market holding a diversity of stakeholders from one person side hustles to small-medium enterprises to multi-billion large global giants. The sector interacts with other sectors of: buying, purchasing and procurement/supply chain; marketing, transport and logistics; customer service.  

Areas of Work in Retail 

An outline of core areas of work within retail include: 

Fashion and Beauty 

  • Apparel Retail: this cluster includes clothing, footwear, and accessories retailers, ranging from high-street chains to luxury brands. 
  • Beauty Retail: this sector covers cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance retailers, both standalone stores and those within department stores. 

Food and Grocery 

  • Supermarkets and Grocery Stores: this cluster includes major supermarket chains, convenience stores, and discount retailers. 
  • Food Service: this area encompasses restaurants, cafes, pubs, and fast-food chains. 

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) 

  • An area which covers retail of products that are consumed quickly and frequently, such as food, beverages, toiletries, and household goods. These products are typically sold in large quantities and at relatively low prices. It is estimated by 2025, FMCG will double its market share. 

Home and Lifestyle 

  • Home Goods: this cluster includes retailers specialising in homewares, furnishings, and appliances. 
  • Lifestyle Retail: these retailers cover a wide range of products, including electronics, books, stationery, and gifts. 

Department Stores 

  • General Merchandise: this cluster includes department stores that sell a variety of products across multiple categories. 

E-commerce 

  • Online Retail: here we have businesses that operate exclusively online, selling products directly to consumers. 

Retail Services 

  • Retail Support: this cluster includes companies that provide services to retailers, such as marketing, logistics, and technology. 

Sector careers advice 

For more insight into this sector and further overviews of the main areas of work in retail, visit the sites below: 

  • Prospects: overview of job roles in this sector and graduate schemes in retail. 
  • Target Careers - overview of jobs and employers in the retail sector. 
  • Rethink Retail - information resource compiled by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the industry body representing UK retailers, which showcases occupational insights of working within the wholesale and retail sector. Here, you will find testimonies of professionals working in the sector. The BRC also has a YouTube channel of videos which can be found by clicking here. 

For sector statistics, please visit the Retail Industry Report on My Career Zone Digital, The Office for National Statistics assessment of the retail industry, and The British Retail Consortium’s summary of retail in numbers. 

Sector news and insights 

If you want to research this sector further, the following web pages may be helpful.  

Career Zone and University of Exeter resources 

External resources 

  • Drapers - digital periodical showcasing sub-sector news and trends in the fashion industry, including retail developments. 
  • Kantar Insights - leading market research firm insights in trends in the retail sector and retail behaviours.
  • Marketing Week - industry digital periodical providing information on areas of advertising (brand management), PR, marketing, strategy, trends, news, commentary and jobs. 
  • Retail Analysis by IGD - review of three hundred UK retailers, analysing their strategic and operational behaviours. 
  • Retail Week - digital periodical with sector news, market data, analysis and jobs. 
  • Talking Retail- digital periodical showcasing sub-sector news and trends specifically pertaining to UK convenience and independent grocery retailers. 
  • The Grocer - digital periodical showcasing sub-sector news and trends in fast moving consumer goods. 
  • The Retail Gazette – industry publication exploring news items in the retail sector. 
  • TRB - The Retail Bulletin - industry periodical providing retail sector news 

Information and links from professional bodies 

If you have studied for a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing or Chartered Management Institute.  In retail, in the main professional bodies typically operate as advocacy groups representing the needs of their members rather than bodies enforcing standardised practice. The overarching lead professional body is the British Retail Consortium. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary. However, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up with what's happening in the sector. You don’t need to be a member to access lots of helpful information. 

Professional Bodies 

Research Centres 

Making contacts  

Making contacts is particularly essential for success in this sector. Many jobs in this field come through initial volunteering, networking and speculative applications. You could start by speaking with the experts – find out what they did after graduation and contact them for advice using the Career Mentor Scheme or Ask An Alum.  

Find out if any Exeter alumni are working in this sector that you can get in touch with to gain insights and learn more with the LinkedIn Alumni tool.  

Start networking to build contacts.  Attend events, comment on blogs and follow professionals on LinkedIn.  Attend a skills session to develop your networking skills and knowledge.  

Events  

Recruitment fairs, conventions, open days, talks, and social events give insights and opportunities to make contacts. Make the most of the opportunity to meet with employers and experienced sector professionals to learn about job opportunities and industry knowledge and to get inspiration for pathways to pursue.  Some events to consider predominantly within the UK and some abroad to connect with professionals such as at: Retail Week Live, The Internet Retailing Expo, The Retail Summit. See Retail Week events for more listings of networking events. 

Keep up to date with and register to attend upcoming events on Handshake. If you have not activated your account, select the Single Sign On (SSO) option and follow the instructions onscreen. 

Job roles

Explore roles in the sector by visiting the job profiles below. Each profile covers typical duties and responsibilities, entry requirements and the key skills required for the position. 

Management and Leadership 

  • Department/Store Manager: oversees the day-to-day operations of a retail store/department, including staff management, budgeting, and meeting sales targets.
  • Area Manager: a progression step from the earlier roles, which where a role holder manages multiple retail stores in a specific geographic region, overseeing store performance, staff development, and implementing company strategies.  
  • Retail Operations Manager: responsible for the overall efficiency and profitability of a retail business, overseeing areas such as logistics, store operations, and human resources. This role encompasses an amalgamation of aspects found in these roles: production manager, logistics manager and human resources. 

Sales and Customer Service 

  • Retail / sales assistant: provides customer service, advice about products, assists with sales on the shop floor, and maintains store appearance by keeping shelves stocked and displays tidy. Typically, this is not a graduate role but can serve as insight into this sector. 
  • Customer Service Representative: handles customer inquiries, complaints to resolve issues efficiently and maintain customer retention and satisfaction. 

Buying and Merchandise 

  • Buyer: Selects and purchases products for a retail business, considering factors like customer demand, market trends, and profitability. https://www.prospects.ac.uk/  
  • Merchandiser: Arranges and displays products on the sales floor to maximize sales and customer appeal, considering factors like product visibility, customer flow, and brand presentation. https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ 
  • Visual Merchandiser: Creates visually appealing displays and window displays to attract customers, using techniques like product placement, lighting, and signage.  

Supply Chain and Logistics 

  • Stock controller: manages inventory levels within a retail business, ensuring that products are available for sale through ordering, receiving, and tracking stock. Not a graduate role but again can offer an insight into the sector. Note, similarity to warehouse operative.  

Marketing and E-commerce 

  • Retail Marketing Manager: develops and implements marketing strategies to promote a retail business and increase sales through advertising, social media, and promotions.  
  • Digital Marketing Specialist: focuses on online marketing channels for a retail business, such as social media marketing, email marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) to drive traffic and online sales. 
  • E-commerce Manager: oversees the online operations of a retail business, including website management, online sales, customer service, and ensuring a seamless e-commerce experience.  

Sector-specific vacancies can be found and researched through the links below.  Remember to filter job searches with key words such as the occupational roles listed above. Remember to search specific job sections of target employers, setting up email bulletins to receive updates of opportunities. If you are undertaking general research and do not have yet a preference on specific jobs, keep the search open and allow yourself to be inspired.  

Skills employers look for: 

Employers in the retail sector often look for a blend of both soft and hard skills. Here are some key skills that are highly valued in this sector which are also readily transferable to other sectors. Some roles will require specific technical skills, e.g. digital marketing roles will require SEO competencies. 

Soft Skills 

  • Excellent customer service: ability to interact with customers professionally, courteously, and effectively. 
  • Strong communication skills: clear and concise communication, both verbal and written. 
  • Problem-solving: ability to identify and resolve issues efficiently and effectively. 
  • Teamwork: ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues to achieve shared goals. 
  • Adaptability: flexibility to adapt to changing work environments and priorities. This sector is particularly noted for shift pattern work in parts of the sector. 
  • Time management: ability to prioritise tasks and manage time efficiently. 
  • Attention to detail: meticulousness and accuracy in tasks. 

Hard Skills 

  • Product knowledge: understanding of the products or services offered by the retailer. 
  • Sales techniques: ability to persuade and influence customers to make purchases. 
  • Cash handling: proficiency in handling cash and processing payments accurately. 
  • Inventory management: knowledge of stock control and inventory management systems. 
  • Computer skills: proficiency in using retail software and technology. 
  • Merchandising skills: understanding of product placement, display, and visual merchandising techniques. 

 

Work experience and placements

You can develop the skills required to work in these roles and sectors, in and alongside your degree, using online platforms, social media, and discussion groups on LinkedIn. Engage with relevant discussion forums. Recruiters will be looking for evidence of your interest in the sector. 

Getting a graduate role is competitive. Gaining relevant experience in the workplace will not only make your applications stand out but will also allow you to develop new skills and gain valuable insight into the sector. 

University of Exeter Employability Schemes  

These employability schemes can help you find or enhance your work experience and build valuable network connections. 

  • Ask an Alum: A fuss-free way to connect with University of Exeter alumni to ask career questions.   
  • Career Mentor Scheme: A popular employability scheme which matches a student or graduate with an experienced professional for sector insight and one-to-one career advice and guidance over a 6-month period.  
  • Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be beneficial, allowing you to gain experience so try to get relevant vacation work or placements. 
  • Grand Challenges: A project week where students work in interdisciplinary groups to design solutions to real-world challenges. Develop communication and campaign skills to present ideas creatively.   

Finding part-time work  

Many students work part-time during their studies. Part-time student jobs are often found in the hospitality or retail sectors, where you can gain transferrable interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills. 

Search for part-time work here: 

  • Handshake (filter ‘part time’ and by your location). 
  • General job sites such as LinkedIn jobs, Find a Job or Indeed (filter on “part-time” and “Exeter”). 
  • Identify and call local businesses in your local area with your CV to ask about part-time jobs. 

Virtual Work Experience 

Work experiences in retail typically tend to be physical in-person scenarios. Some virtual internships in area of retail marketing or management exist on online MOOCs such as Forage, Coursera or Future Learn. 

Virtual work experience from other sectors may lend valuable transferable skills that could leverage subsequent opportunities in retail. 

  • Forage provides short virtual internships in a range of sectors, with opportunities to connect with employers. 
  • The Bright Network provides virtual internships in various sectors and fast-track opportunities for graduate programmes and internships for virtual-intern alumni. Look out for the Bright Network annual June internship week. 

Speculative applications (finding and approaching companies for opportunities) 

As jobs are not always advertised, developing your networking skills and applying speculatively can be useful. This means approaching organisations directly for an opportunity.  

  • Research and make a shortlist of organisations you would like to gain experience with. 
  • Identify what roles people hold in the organisation.  Are there any exciting campaigns or projects running or coming up that you’d like to be involved in or support?  
  • Create your tailored CV and cover letter, clearly outlining what you are asking of the organisation and highlighting what you can bring.  What’s your unique offer? 

The websites below hold directories which can be a helpful place to start, when researching potential organisations of interest and congruent values.  

Internships 

Internships in the UK are usually, but not always, designed for undergraduate students, so do read application criteria carefully.  An internship in any sector will help you gain relevant transferrable skills. 

Opportunities to gain experience through internships and work experience can commonly be found through speculative approaches. Larger scale organisations periodically advertise internships. Bright Network and Handshake Jobs can serve as a useful starting point to finding internships. 

Any of Career Zone's internships could offer an invaluable supply of added experience. 

  • Professional Pathways: a suite of sector specific training courses and paid week-long internships that take place in June.  

Further information here on Target Jobs –‘What is an internship and how do I get one?’ and a Career Zone blog explaining the difference between graduate schemes, work placements, internships. 

Volunteering 

Voluntary work experience will allow you to develop your communication, organisation and other skills which could help leverage industry opportunities in retail. 

 

Graduate jobs and schemes

A graduate scheme and a graduate job are both employment opportunities for recent graduates, but differ in structure and purpose. Competition is strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers. 

Graduate schemes 

A graduate scheme is a structured programme providing comprehensive training and development within an organisation, typically involving rotations through different departments or roles within an organisation, allowing graduates to gain a broad understanding of the business and develop diverse skills. 

Graduate Job Opportunities  

A graduate job is an entry-level position that requires a degree. Training will be provided; however, as with any job role, it will be less formal and focused on ‘on-the-job’ learning. Graduates are typically hired for a specific role within a department with the expectation of being able to contribute to the role immediately, without the rotational experiences that are part of graduate schemes. 

The following links can be useful resources for finding advertised vacancies and researching employers. 

  • Bright Network – general jobs listing platform for graduates 
  • Prospects – listings of graduate schemes in retail 

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page, and for a list of general job search engines please visit our general job sources page. You could also have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students.  

Finding companies for speculative applications 

As jobs are not always advertised, developing your networking skills and applying speculatively can be helpful. You may find the following prompts a useful place to start:  

  • Research and make a shortlist of potential employers leading the way in the field in which you want to work. 
  • Identify organisations whose culture, interests and purpose align with your passion and values. 
  • Explore company structure and roles.  What opportunities do you see for possible job roles or work experience? 
  • Create your tailored CV and covering letter, clearly outlining what you are asking for and why they should consider you.  What are your unique selling point(s)? 

Make the most of our comprehensive programme of skills sessions throughout your studies, on topics including networking essentials, communication skills, job hunting, job hunting and writing an effective cover letter, to support your direct approaches.   

Explore further techniques and strategies for identifying and approaching potential employers on our Researching Employers page. 

Agencies 

Similar to other sectors there exists a number of specialist recruitment agencies which may serve as another line of enquiry to source work. Hays is an illustrative example such an agency.  

Further sources of support 

For further advice on finding graduate opportunities, visit our finding a graduate job page. 

If you are an international student, visit our web pages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

Further study and professional development

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal. Log in using your university email address. The worldwide country guides cover everything from job search resources and CV guidelines to cultural advice and visa information. Watch a short training video on how to get the most from GoinGlobal (4 minutes 20 seconds). 

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to build their skills and knowledge of the sector. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. You may have the option to gain professional qualifications after graduating which will show your commitment towards the industry. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

There are many different routes into the sector including graduate roles, postgraduate study, volunteering, internships and more. A postgraduate study programme could enable specialisation, a career change or competitive advantage. 

If you would like to pursue postgraduate study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study. If you are unsure whether further study is for you, you may wish to attend our ‘Postgraduate study: is it right for you?’ session which runs termly. Find these advertised on Handshake. 

Further information  

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Many major graduate recruiters have policies and processes that are proactive in recruiting graduates from diverse backgrounds. To find out the policies and attitudes of employers that you are interested in, explore their equality and diversity policies and see if they offer ‘Guaranteed Interview Schemes’ (for disabled applicants) or are recognised for their policy by such indicators as ‘Mindful Employer’ or as a ‘Stonewalls Diversity Champion’. 

The UK law protects you from discrimination due to your age, gender, race, religion or beliefs, disability or sexual orientation. For further information on the Equality Act and to find out where and how you are protected, as well as information on what you need to do if you feel you have been discriminated against, visit the Government’s webpages on discrimination. 

To learn more about how to share details of a disability with an employer and the support you can receive applying for jobs and work experience visit our equality and diversity page. See below for some sample schemes promoting inclusion, diversity and equality.  

Further information