DEVELOP ENTRY-LEVEL TALENT TO SUPPORT ON DELIVERING AN EXCEPTIONAL PRODUCT OFFER
Designed for those starting out on a career in buying and merchandising, this Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant apprenticeship explores all aspects of these functions, looking at the retail business environment, planning and budgeting, range creation and trading.
Learners will develop buying skills to support new product selection, development and monitoring in today’s omnichannel environment, while the merchandising pathway examines the collation and analysis of performance reports, identifying trends, trading patterns and highlighting anomalies within datasets.
KEY INFORMATION
- Explores budgeting and sales planning, sourcing considerations and product development models
- Develops commercial instincts and strategic thinking
- Builds confidence using data and key software like Excel
- Hybrid, online and in person delivery
- Practical experience balanced with theoretical learning
- Open cohorts for less than 11 apprentices available with rolling start dates throughout the year
- Closed cohorts for more than 11 apprentices starting at a time that suits your brand
APPRENTICESHIP DETAILS
The Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant apprenticeship is designed for those in the early stages of a career in buying or merchandising.
- Open cohort starts in March/April and September/October
- Closed cohorts can start at any time
- Hybrid, online and in-person delivery
- Practical experience balanced with theoretical learning
The Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant programme is best suited to those who are new to buying and merchandising and have been in their role for less than 12 months, for example a buyer's admin assistant looking to step up to buying assistant.
Offering a full overview of buying and merchandising best practice, this apprenticeship explores all aspects of these functions within the retail business environment, including planning and budgeting, range creation and trading.
Apprentices will gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to support new product selection and development, ensuring that products are sustainably and efficiently sourced. They will also learn to analyse and report sales and performance data to identify trends and trading patterns, and use this to create action plans and updated forecasts.
The Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant apprenticeship costs £6,000 per learner which includes End-Point Assessment.
Apprenticeships can be funded from your Apprenticeship Levy or by Government Co-Invest. If you do not pay the Levy, the Government will fund 95% of the programme, meaning you pay as little as £300 per person you enrol. We are also able to offer privately funded places for any employees not eligible for apprenticeship funding. For further information about funding options, eligibility and costs, please contact us.
- Bespoke off-the-job learning plan
- Programme Manager overseeing the learner journey and apprentice experience
- Delivery of the programme by retail experts
- Blend of sessions including online learning, webinars, in-person workshops, and individual coaching and support
- Preparation and support for End-Point Assessment
- Dedicated Client Manager
- Access to FRA resources including WGSN, LinkedIn Learning, Global Data, Business of Fashion, Fashion/Beauty Monitor and Drapers
- Online e-Portfolio
- Monthly progress report
Next Open Cohort
March/April 2024
September/October 2024
Closed Cohorts
We can begin a closed intake apprenticeship at any time that suits your brand. We require a minimum of 10 learners to offer a closed cohort for Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant apprentices.
Duration: 16 months
The Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant Apprenticeship typically takes 16 months to complete, followed by a period of end-point assessment. For our closed-access programmes, the programme duration and delivery model can be flexible to support business objectives – please get in touch to find out more about the options available.
Module 1: Retail Business Environment
- Macro economics
- Business strategies
- Retail structures & strategy
- Multichannel & omnichannel trading environments
- Competitive environment
- Brand positioning
- Customer profiling
- Introduction to business data
- Buying & merchandising roles & responsibilities
- Buying & merchandising core concepts
- Buying & merchandising systems
- Legal frameworks (including intellectual property and copyright)
Module 2: Planning & Budgeting
- Corporate & department strategy
- Sales budgeting
- Season building
- Grading & density
- Product research
- Trends (including PESTEL & SWOT analysis)
- Lessons learnt/post mortem
- Supply chain management
- Supplier performance management
- Sourcing concepts
- Sustainable sourcing
Module 3: Commercial Range Development
- Design process
- Product technology, safety & quality control
- Sampling process
- Product innovation
- Critical path management
- Range planning
- Sales & option planning
- Price architecture
- Width vs. depth
- Seasonal vs. core
- Phasing
- Costs
- Waste management
- Profit & loss
- Margin planning
Module 4: Trading
- In-season trading
- Performance review
- Key performance indictors (KPI)
- Weekly sales, stock & intake (WSSI)
- Replenishment
- Repeat buy
- Markdown & profit
- Promotional calendar
Module 5: EPA Prep
- To ensure learner is ready for Gateway and EPA
- Assessments aligned with EPA requirements
End-point assessment
For the Level 4 Buying & Merchandising Assistant apprenticeship, end-point assessment is provided by EFI Awards. EPA typically takes 3 months to complete.
EPA comprises work-based project including presentation and Q&As, and professional discussion.