UK National Occupational Standards for Retail

Retail employees putting products on shelves in supermarket

Leading retailers including Asda, Lidl, Co-op, JD Sports, and Capital & Regional have successfully collaborated to update the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the retail sector. The updated standards are now available, providing a comprehensive resource to guide workforce development, recruitment, performance management and training across the industry.

What are National Occupational Standards?

National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe the specific skills, knowledge, and understanding required to perform a particular task or job to a nationally recognised level of competence. These standards serve as a key tool for employers, supporting recruitment, performance management, training needs analysis and career development. Additionally, NOS play a crucial role in the development of apprenticeships, qualifications and training programmes within the retail sector.

Retail Sales Manager Explaining to New Retail Assistant

Why are the updated NOS important?

Retail is a dynamic and fast-evolving industry. To ensure that the sector remains competitive, employers must stay ahead of new trends, technologies and consumer demands. The updated NOS reflect these shifts, equipping retailers with a clear, standardised approach to defining the necessary competencies across all levels of the workforce.

People in motion in escalators at the modern shopping mall

What has been revised in the retail NOS?

The key changes in the updated National Occupational Standards (NOS) for retail focus on emerging industry trends. These include a stronger emphasis on hybrid marketing and omnichannel strategies, ethical and sustainability issues, digital transformation and the changing nature of retail crime. These updates ensure the retail workforce is equipped to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving market.