Retail is the largest private sector employer in the UK, with 3 million employees, 286,680 outlets and producing a turnover of £315bn.

Retail is the largest private sector employer in the UK, with 3 million employees, 286,680 outlets and producing a turnover of £315bn. One tenth of the UK population works in the sector in a range of diverse businesses from small individual shops to large chains, highlighting the importance of retail to both local communities and national economies.

Despite the tough economic climate, retail has been recently identified by the Government as an essential industry for growth and job creation.

It is predicted that the sector will employ 3.3 million people by 2017 and create 214,000 new jobs along the way - on top of the 1.2 million positions that need to be filled as people leave or change jobs.

Yet despite its dominance, the sector faces the serious challenges of developing an appropriately skilled workforce and promoting the diverse range of career options it offers.

Established in 2002, Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for retail, plays an important strategic role in tackling this challenge. Part-funded by Government and led by retailers, Skillsmart Retail aims to be the recognised authority on retailers’ skills needs and priorities. Its mission is to drive skills levels in retail by:

  • Making a compelling case for the formal recognition of retail skills
  • Uniting retailers to simplify and improve access to the skills system
  • Improving the quality of new recruits into the retail sector
  • Raising the skills levels of the existing workforce in retail operations

Skillsmart Retail is led by retailers for the benefit of all retailers employing people in the UK.

It works with businesses of all sizes to understand their skills issues and improve performance through the development of their people.

Anne Seaman, Chief Executive, Skillsmart Retail

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