Professional development and training in retail and sales

Discover the benefits of professional development and find out which qualifications could fast-track your career…

Do I need to do postgraduate study?

This depends on the type of role you're aiming for in the sector e.g. if you want to work in finance as an accountant then you will need to do professional training and this may be supported by your employer.

However, if you're looking to work as a store manager then postgraduate study may not be necessary but continuing professional development (CPD) may be an advantage to further your skills.

To find postgraduate retail and sales courses in the UK, search courses and research.

Should I join a professional body?

It depends on the type of job you're aiming for. For example, entry qualifications for some jobs are provided (or accredited) by professional bodies. Where this is the case, you might need to join the professional body to become qualified to do the job, which could mean membership is compulsory.

For other jobs, being a member of a professional body is voluntary and can be valuable for developing networks, CPD and generally keeping up to date. For more information, see types of jobs.

Which professional qualifications are recognised in the sector?

• British Retail Consortium  - a trade association representing retailers. It has a training academy which offers courses in various areas of retail.
• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)  - promotes and develops marketing and the education and training needed to progress in the sector. Offers training courses specifically for sales employees to help them further their performance.
• Institute of Customer Service (ICS)  - the independent, professional membership body for customer service. It offers a range of professional qualifications to help employees improve their customer service skills.
• Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) - provides information and best practice in the consumer goods industry. It offers training and development for people working in the food and consumer goods industry including workshops on all areas e.g. category management and shopper marketing.
• National Association of Goldsmiths - represents jewellery retailers and provides education and training for members of the retail jewellery industry.