Asda, Lidl and Co-op among retailers behind national sector skills review
A national steering group including representatives of Lidl, Co-op and Asda has launched a public consultation on the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the retail sector.
NOS are standardised definitions of the core and transferable skills required of individuals to successfully carry out their job roles.
Last updated in 2017, the retail suite of NOS covers a wide range of retail sector roles, from customer service and inventory to branding, purchasing and merchandising.
Following a 6-month sector-led review, the public consultation – which launches today – provides stakeholders the opportunity to input into the retail suite of NOS before they are published later this year.
Never Miss a Retail Update!Lloyd Thomas, Future Workforce Skills & Capability Lead at Co-op, sits on the NOS steering group alongside representatives of Lidl, Asda, AS Watson and Capital & Regional Plc. Encouraging both national and independent retailers to respond to the public consultation, he said:
“Updating the NOS is vital to ensuring the retail sector has the skilled workforce needed to stay competitive.
“Taking part in this consultation is a great opportunity for employers and stakeholders to shape the future of workforce development, making sure our standards stay relevant and aligned with the changing needs of the industry.”
Leading the NOS review is the sector skills council for the retail sector, People 1st International. Managing Director Jane Rexworthy explains how a ‘timely’ review of the NOS is vital to ensure that they remain fit for purpose and beneficial to retail employers.
“In a rapidly changing landscape, it is crucial to update the NOS to ensure that they stay relevant and continue to provide a platform for the retail sector to develop its workforce,” says Jane.
“Retail is an important sector of the economy in the UK, accounting for roughly 5% of GDP and supporting over 2.5 million jobs.
“NOS play a vital role in shaping the workforce behind this, facilitating job role and service design, improving recruitment and retention in the sector, as well as informing the development of qualifications and apprenticeships.
“We therefore value the input and support of stakeholders as we finalise this vital and timely review of the retail suite of NOS.”
People 1st International is now inviting individual and organisational stakeholders to provide their feedback on the proposed updates across the retail suite of National Occupational Standards. The public consultation opened on 22 January and will remain open for a total of 3 weeks until 14 February.
Stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback online via here.
