Retail (SVQ) qualifications and training courses

Last Updated: 23 Nov 2016

These flexible qualifications cover all the essential skills and knowledge needed for working in a wide range of roles within the retail sector. They are available at two levels to help learners find their first job and progress in their career.

The Level 5 SVQ is not a mandatory outcome of the Scottish Retail Modern Apprenticeship; however, employers may choose the SVQ Retail Skills Level 5 as an optional outcome. The level 6 Retail SVQ is part of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Retail.

This qualification is ideal for anyone interested in a career in the retail sector - from job seeker or new entrant to supervisor or manager. Learners can specialise in areas such as sales, customer service, processing fresh produce and visual merchandising.

Available to deliver in the following:

Scotland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

You'll cover things like:

Sales
Customer support
Stock control
Fulfilling orders
Processing fresh goods
Visual merchandising
Supervisor
Manager.

You will learn on the job in the work environment and compile a portfolio of evidence for assessment.

Which Level is right for me?

SCQF Level 5
This programme is suitable for any learner aged 16 and over who is seeking a career in the retail industries.

SCQF Level 6
Learners already working in the retail sector would benefit most from this programme. There are no formal academic entry requirements, but it is recommended that centres should carry out pre-assessment to ensure that learners have the opportunity to gather the requisite portfolio of evidence.

The qualifications can take anything from three months to one year to complete.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of retails roles, including:

SCQF Level 5:

Retail assistant
Sales advisor
Personal shopper
Back of shop
Bakers/Butchers/Fishmongers/Greengrocers
Home delivery, department store
Beauticians
Newsagents
Visual merchandisers, window dressers
Insurance
Customer service.

SCQF Level 6:

Store design and environment
Team supervisor
Lead sales advisors
Sales partners
Team managers
Manager.

Learners can also choose to go on to take the City & Guilds Level 1, 2 or 3 Award, Certificate or Diploma in Retail Skills (7384).

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need suitably qualified staff to carry out training and assessment.

You will also need suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards.

To find all the resource requirements, download the handbooks from the centre documents section.

Anyone can take this qualification, but you must make sure all your learners can access the resources they need to complete it.

SCQF 5

SCQF Level 5
This programme is suitable for any learner aged 16 and over who is seeking a career in the retail industries.

SCQF Level 6
Learners already working in the retail sector would benefit most from this programme. There are no formal academic entry requirements, but it is recommended that centres should carry out pre-assessment to ensure that learners have the opportunity to gather the requisite portfolio of evidence.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of retails roles, including:

SCQF Level 5:

Retail assistant
Sales advisor
Personal shopper
Back of shop
Bakers/Butchers/Fishmongers/Greengrocers
Home delivery, department store
Beauticians
Newsagents
Visual merchandisers, window dressers
Insurance
Customer service.

SCQF Level 6:

Store design and environment
Team supervisor
Lead sales advisors
Sales partners
Team managers
Manager.

Learners can also choose to go on to take the City & Guilds Level 1, 2 or 3 Award, Certificate or Diploma in Retail Skills (7384).

SVQ 2 in Retail Skills at SCQF Level 5 (2008-20)

Last Registration Date: 31 Jan 2018 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

SVQ 2 in Retail Skills at SCQF Level 5

Accreditation No: GE2M22 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: SVQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/01/2020 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

SCQF 6

SCQF Level 5
This programme is suitable for any learner aged 16 and over who is seeking a career in the retail industries.

SCQF Level 6
Learners already working in the retail sector would benefit most from this programme. There are no formal academic entry requirements, but it is recommended that centres should carry out pre-assessment to ensure that learners have the opportunity to gather the requisite portfolio of evidence.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of retails roles, including:

SCQF Level 5:

Retail assistant
Sales advisor
Personal shopper
Back of shop
Bakers/Butchers/Fishmongers/Greengrocers
Home delivery, department store
Beauticians
Newsagents
Visual merchandisers, window dressers
Insurance
Customer service.

SCQF Level 6:

Store design and environment
Team supervisor
Lead sales advisors
Sales partners
Team managers
Manager.

Learners can also choose to go on to take the City & Guilds Level 1, 2 or 3 Award, Certificate or Diploma in Retail Skills (7384).

SVQ 3 in Retail (Sales Professional) at SCQF Level 6 (2008-31)

Last Registration Date: 31 Jan 2018 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

SVQ 3 in Retail (Sales Professional) at SCQF Level 6 (2008)

Accreditation No: GE2N23 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: SVQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/01/2021 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

SVQ 3 in Retail (Management) at SCQF Level 6 (2008-32)

Last Registration Date: 31 Jan 2018 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

SVQ 3 in Retail (Management) at SCQF Level 6

Accreditation No: GE2R23 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
Type: SVQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
Last Certification: 31/01/2021 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

Additional information for centres

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Learning Assistant is an innovative and cost effective e-portfolio solution that allows colleges and training providers to dramatically improve the delivery of their vocational qualifications.

Learn more about Learning Assistant >

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to walled-garden.com and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form.

Retail (SVQ) (2008)