A consortium including Tesco, universities, and industry partners developed a Foundation Degree in retail management to address skills gaps in the growing retail sector. The 2-year, work-based program was piloted with 40 Tesco employees and combines workshops, online learning, and work experience. Students study topics like retail operations, consumer behavior, and leadership. Graduates report increased confidence and career prospects from applying their new knowledge on the job. Tesco aims to recruit and promote from within using the tailored qualification.
1. www.fdf.ac.uk
fdf (Foundation Degree Forward),Tesco,University
of Arts,London,Manchester Metropolitan University,
My Knowledge Map,and advisory partners Skillsmart
Retail Ltd andThe Retail Academy Ltd,worked in
partnership to develop a Foundation degree course to
train retail managers across the sector.
Retail industry growth stretches talent pool
Tesco is the UK’s largest private sector employer.Expansion
of employment in the retail industry,which already employs
three million of the nation’s workforce,is also set to continue.
With fewer higher education graduates than other sectors and
a high employee turnover,skills-gaps,employee retention and
recruitment in retail prove problematic for retailers.
To both develop talent in the existing workforce and attract
new talent,a retail specific Foundation degree (Fd) is now
available for partnerships of employers and higher education
providers to adopt and adapt to meet business needs.
Meeting industry needs
With retail partner Tesco,the fdf-led consortium designed
a Foundation degree to improve business performance.
Underpinned by workforce development needs,it created a
flexible higher education,university awarded,qualification for
the retail industry; to make knowledge and skills transferable
across the sector.
A qualification to grow a workforce
Skillsmart Retail’s recent report highlighted a need for
improvement in:
• managers’leadership skills in larger retail outlets
• managers’skills and knowledge in independent stores
Structured around the leadership and knowledge skills gaps,
the Fd was designed to be delivered through a combination
of workshops,work-based learning and online tutorials.
Tesco employees set Fd standards
The two-year work-based course was piloted by 40 Tesco
employees in September 2007 – from experienced to new
retail professionals – providing a higher education pathway to
those it may not be traditionally available to.
The high-level academic challenge of the Fd marries
experience and theory application,through studying:
• Retail environment
• Retail operations
• Consumer behaviour
• Information management
• In-store customer marketing
• Retail law
• Leadership in retail
• Personal and professional development
CaseStudy
Every little helps:Tesco sets standards for retail
Foundation degree
A retail Foundation degree (Fd) for the whole retail industry,awarded by University of Arts London and
Manchester Metropolitan University
Kathy Coveney,Tesco Compliance Manager - a retail Fd student
2. www.fdf.ac.uk
Alex Cave,29,a Duty Manager at Tesco,Helsby,is one of the
first to undertake the Fd.Personal development is key to Alex,
who,having worked at Tesco for ten years,has an ambition to
become Store Manager.
“I feel that the Foundation degree gives me a competitive edge
during performance reviews and will increase the opportunity
for promotion.”
Alex recently made a presentation to 60 Personnel Managers
– something he had done before,but could now do with
more skill.
“I was able to apply my learning,and received very good
feedback.”
Alex studies in his own time and time is also given to Fd
employees to attend workshops at Manchester Metropolitan
University.He has a dedicated tutor who he finds very
supportive,in addition to online support for the web-based
side of the degree.
“I learn something new from every aspect of the degree.I am
more confident in my abilities and more commercially aware of
the wider retail industry”
The consortium of education providers and retail specialists’
goal was to develop workforces through education and
training.Derek Longhurst,Chief Executive of fdf explains:
“The retail Fd is higher education for business needs.Far from
just closing skills gaps,it equips staff for sector challenges and
further develops competitive advantage for retailers.”
Success through education-work-life balance
Pivotal to this principle is individual education-work- life
balance; complementing,not compromising each.
Another student benefiting from the flexibility of employer-
based learning is Kathy Coveney,Tesco Compliance Manager
and retail Fd student.
Supported by a Tesco head office mentor,Kathy’s goal on
completing the course is to work in the head office or in a
regional support role.Kathy comments:
“I feel sure that the degree will improve my career prospects
and open up new opportunities.I used to suffer from a lack of
confidence – I feel that the course has now given me much more
confidence in my abilities and I take on new challenges with a
more‘can do’attitude.”
As across the wider retail industry,Tesco aims to recruit from
within,making qualification-based training ideal.David Potts
Retail and Logistics Director,Tesco,adds:
“Helping design the Fd to fit the needs ofTesco through student
selection,course content and delivery model,students are
already telling us how it meets their individual needs.
“The degree has been designed by business,for business,and
Tesco is proud to be continuing to shape the future of training
for the wider retail sector.”
Following the successful pilot with Tesco,the retail Fd is now
available for partnerships of retailers and higher education
providers to adapt to the requirements of other organisations.
For further information on Foundation degrees,please visit
the fdf (Foundation Degree Forward) website at
www.fdf.ac.uk
or contact the fdf Press Office at
fdf@fourcommunications.com
Kathy Coveney in-store