Retail leadership (integrated degree)
Level 6 · DegreeSales, marketing and procurement 4 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A Retail Leadership integrated degree apprentice combines an undergraduate degree with hands-on leadership experience across retail operations, people management, and commercial decision-making. Apprentices work for major retailers and take on real management responsibilities while studying, from store operations to supply chain and strategic planning. This level 6 apprenticeship leads directly into senior and general management roles within large retail organisations.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Retail strategy, commercial planning, and trading performance management
People leadership - recruitment, development, and performance management
Supply chain and stock management principles in large-scale retail
Customer experience design and service culture
Financial management - P&L, budgeting, and margin analysis
Change management and leading teams through transformation
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Lead and manage a team of retail colleagues in a store or function
Analyse trading performance data and take action to hit targets
Plan and manage staffing rotas and resource allocation
Deliver team briefings and coaching conversations
Drive customer service standards and handle escalated complaints
Contribute to commercial and operational planning projects
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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