Home > Full Time Courses > National Diploma in Business (Retail)
This vocationally related, full time, two year course, covers a wide range of key retail business topics suitable for those seeking careers in the retail industry, commerce, administration, or wanting to progress to higher education. At the FRA this course is set in a fashion retail context and draws on its specialist expertise in this industry.
This established national and internationally recognised qualification is an alternative to A levels and assists with entry to university, other further education studies and employment. On successful completion, this BTEC Level 3 National Diploma is equivalent to 3 A levels.
For entry to the BTEC Extended National Diploma in Business (Retail), you should:
And have any of the following:
2 years
To assess your suitability for this course, the selection process will include an application. If this is successful an interview will follow, where one or more members of the course team will see you. This will allow us to gain a good idea of your self motivation and commitment, as well as interest in the business and fashion retail industry. It will also give you an opportunity to ask questions about the course.
Your lessons will involve group and individual activities, presentations, tutor input, independent research, projects, discussions, role plays etc. Realistic work experience will be arranged using our industry network. The course is 100% course work assessed and assessments for each unit include projects, portfolios, presentations, group work and reports.
The course is full time and students are expected to attend all lessons. Emphasis is placed on good attendance and studentship. Independent study time is assigned in between classes so students can carry out their course work and assignments.
The subjects covered will be:
This BTEC National Diploma will be well suited to gain employment in a variety of retail related areas, in particular fashion retail. Amongst these are store and head office administration, administrative assistants for buying, merchandising, PR and marketing departments, store management trainee positions and junior visual merchandising assistants. Alternatively it will assist you in gaining entry into Higher Education in a range of fields such as business, management, retail and business administration.
A Buying Administration Assistant needs to display brand awareness and be customer focused. A BAA’s tasks would include organising and preparing Fit Meetings and attending the sample library.
A Merchandising Admin Assistant would work closely with the Assistant Merchandiser to plan and forecast department sales and stock movement. They must display an insight into the company, the customer profile and retail trends.
The role of a PR and Marketing Assistant is varied and can include general administration involved in public relations and communications, events management, reports and proposals, branding and company image and reputation.
As a Trainee Store Manager, you'll gain an overall view of how a branch operates and gain experience of every aspect of running a store. You'll learn how to organise yourself and others, and become immersed in branch and company objectives. Specifically, you will help to: look at ways to maximise sales and minimise costs; implement company sales and service initiatives; become involved in recruitment and staff retention; manage a sales team and sell direct to customers.
An Office Administrator is responsible for the day to day tasks of keeping an office running smoothly, from opening and distributing and sending the post to providing support in organising and running office events. This role can be varied and interesting.
