MyKnowledgeMap

Certificate in Retail Principles

Client: Retail Academy

Primary Aim: To devise a course specifically directed at small retailers that was designed around their learning needs, and that took into account the limitations on their available learning time.

Key Challenge: We recognised that it was very hard for retailers to find time to devote to learning. So our course needed to be built out of self-contained blocks, to make the learning more manageable.

The material needed to be highly engaging, and available in a range of forms so that students could choose the form most appropriate to their particular environment.

Solution: MyKnowledgeMap devised a course that comprises seven subject areas, including Visual Merchandising, Product Range Planning and Security in Retail. Each of these represents a ten-hour block of learning, certifiable as a qualification in its own right. We are producing e-learning materials together with matching CD-Roms and workbooks to provide learners with a range of delivery options.

Each subject area is broken down into bite-sized topics, taking between 10 and 20 minutes to complete. So retailers can cover the material at a time and pace suited to their particular situation.

Post-implementation evaluation

During 2004 the pilot for this qualification was supported nationally by the National Learning and Skills Council in seven colleges in the UK. The pilot was completed in March 2005. Deemed a great success, the qualification is now being rolled out across an increasing number of colleges in the UK.

It is recognised that the Certificate is one that needs to evolve continually, in order to keep up-to-date with current retailing practice, with additional modules being added as needed.

The Executive Skills Council has suggested that this material could also be suitable for use within schools, for 14-19 year olds, to support business learning.

City & Guilds used this course as one of their pioneers in testing out the new Global Online Assessment Methodology (GOLA) they were implementing at the time. This methodology has proved to be very successful.

MyKnowledgeMap continues to develop highly engaging interactive learning material that is widely acclaimed by its users and by its training providers.