NATIONAL: The top 5 skills needed in the retail sector in the next 5 years are customer service, technology, communication, leadership and management, according to the new WRAPS plan.
The Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services (WRAPS) Industry Reference Committee (IRC) is responsible for ensuring nationally recognised qualifications deliver the skills and knowledge required to equip its sectors with a highly skilled workforce, both now and into the future. IRC membership comprises industry associations including the NRA, employee associations, training providers and employers.
The four-year WRAPS workplans review the challenges and opportunities facing each sector, new and emerging workforce skills, and propose a schedule for the ongoing review of training products.
As expected, digital trends feature heavily in the plan for retail, highlighting the need for greater digital skills in online selling, supply chain management, data analysis and international market opportunities.
“The success of retailers has become inextricably linked to their digital competence and skills in e-commerce effectiveness, digital marketing, social media and making the online shopping experience work on mobile devices.”
The WRAPS IRC looks after 35 qualifications aligned to job roles within the following sectors:
- beauty
- community pharmacy
- floristry
- funerals
- hairdressing
- retail
- wholesale
The workplans are now up on the SkillsIQ website: https://goo.gl/08qiqx