Retail

There are many career routes that you can enter in the retail industry, the job profiles on this page are a useful place to start.

If you are interested in working in an operational role such as finance, marketing, human resources, IT and logistics, you can find more detailed information in our other sector pages.

The retail market is affected by consumer and client demand and as such opportunities in this sector are affected by the economic climate. Despite this there are still a variety of companies who offer graduate schemes.

Getting in and getting experience

Working in retail you need to have strong customer focus as well as have developed good commercial awareness. Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills are also important to succeed in this area. Good risk assessment and negotiation skills are vital when working in this competitive and demanding marketplace.

The industry sometimes demands long and unsociable working hours, so you need to have drive and motivation. If you are looking to work in buying and merchandising there maybe considerable travel, so having a degree of flexibility is essential.


Getting work experience via part-time jobs and possibly internships will help you develop your skills and employability. Volunteering, for instance in charity shops, may help with your future applications and enhance your CV.

Visit company websites to see if they have formal work experience schemes or make speculative applications to your local branch.

Prominent names in the fashion and retail sector, such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Flannels, and JD Sports have strong footholds in the North West region, underlining the breadth of opportunities within the area. For those interested in the sportswear industry, renowned brands like Castore, Sports Direct, Adanola and Prevayl have their operations rooted in the region.

The flourishing fashion scene in the North West signifies that aspiring professionals no longer need to gravitate towards London for rewarding careers in fashion and retail. The vibrant and diverse landscape in the North West region offers a compelling alternative, providing a wealth of opportunities across different segments of the industry.

For more information about roles and opportunities: