retail modern
apprenticeship programme
“We saw the apprenticeship as an investment in our business,
so that time spent would help our customers and our
business as well as help the apprentice.”
Telecommunications Retailer
What is the Modern Apprenticeship Programme?
The Modern Apprenticeship programme is a government funded, work-based training programme for young people from the ages of 16 to 21. It is designed to increase your business while training the next generation. The Modern Apprenticeship programme aims to make it easier for employers to recruit and train talented young staff and train them to eventually be supervisors or managers.
Modern Apprentices are supported in their training by a Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator from the Retail Institute. The coordinator mentors and supports the apprentice through to completion of their qualification by providing support, advice and ensuring continuity of employment.
Benefits of having a Modern Apprentice:
• Staffretention: The duration of the programme requires staff to commit to your business.
• Moreconfidentstaff: As your staff progress through the Modern Apprenticeship, you will see their skills, competencies and confidence grow. They will be more knowledgeable about the store’s products and customers.
• Minimisepotentiallosses:Staff will be efficient in everything they do and learn about effective stock control, minimising potential losses and giving great customer service.
Getting your staff into workplace learning makes dollars and sense.
It is to every employer’s
advantage to have a
skilled workforce, and an
environment that supports
and encourages employees to
strive for higher goals. This
will be reflected in productivity
- and your bottom line.
The training takes place through a number of ways.
The Retail Institute provides a trainer pack containing the training material to the manager. The manager works through the material with the apprentice. The Modern Apprentice also receives Retail Institute workbooks to work through. See next page for a break down of the Retail Institute’s training material.
In addition, funding for the programme can be used to put the Modern Apprentice on external courses.
How does the training take place?
Who is suitable?
The Modern Apprenticeship is government funded for people from the ages of 16 to 21. It offers young people the chance to start a career in retail.
Modern Apprentices are motivated young New Zealanders. A typical modern apprentice is keen to learn, enjoys putting theory into practice on the job and is eager to prove themself in your industry.
Older than 21?
There is scope for people older than 21 to become Modern Apprentices. Talk to your Retail Institute Training Adviser about other options available to your employees.
Every Modern Apprentice has a coordinator, who will be there to support them throughout their apprenticeship. The coordinator will keep in regular contact and help keep your apprentice on track.
The coordinator will be there to answer any questions you or your apprentice might have.
Formal quarterly review meetings will take place at least four times a year. You will meet with your apprentice and Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator to review your apprentice’s progress towards achieving the objectives set in their training plan.
What is a Modern Apprenticeship Coordinator?
The
Mod
ern
App
rent
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hip
prog
ram
me
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ld t
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oxim
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ree
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plet
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rogr
amm
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nal C
ertifi
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sfer
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tice
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hes
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ram
me
early
the
y ca
n st
art
on t
he
Nat
iona
l Cer
tifica
te in
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ail (
Leve
l 4).
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il M
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Ho
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Description
Whatitcove
rs
YEAR1YEAR2YEAR3
MAnAgingYouRSE
lf
This
mod
ule
will
dev
elop
ski
lls a
nd t
echn
ique
s th
at w
ill
help
the
app
rent
ice
in t
heir
job
and
pers
onal
life
, now
an
d in
the
fut
ure.
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anag
e yo
ur o
wn
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olvi
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ith c
hang
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qua
lifica
tion
focu
ses
on t
asks
com
mon
to
all r
etai
lers
an
d en
cour
ages
lear
ning
‘on
the
job’
.
The
qual
ifica
tion
prov
ides
a b
road
ove
rvie
w o
f th
e re
tail
envi
ronm
ent.
1. C
usto
mer
Ser
vice
2. R
ules
and
Reg
ulat
ions
3. S
ellin
g
4. S
tock
Con
trol
MAnAgingin
foRMAtion
This
mod
ule
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elop
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lls a
nd t
echn
ique
s th
at w
ill
help
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app
rent
ice
man
age
info
rmat
ion
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here
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find
it an
d ho
w t
o us
e it.
Thi
s m
odul
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so c
over
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ritin
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pl
ain
Engl
ish.
1. W
hat
do y
ou n
eed
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now
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ut
2. W
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hoos
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rmat
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ritin
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pla
in E
nglis
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nAtionAlCER
tifiCAtE
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EvEL
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This
qua
lifica
tion
is r
ecog
nise
d as
the
sup
ervi
sory
leve
l ce
rtifi
cate
for
the
ret
ail i
ndus
try.
The
qual
ifica
tion
cove
rs s
kills
suc
h as
: giv
ing
verb
al
inst
ruct
ions
, res
pond
ing
to c
usto
mer
s’ c
ompl
aint
s, u
sing
kn
owle
dge
of le
gisl
atio
n, c
usto
mer
ser
vice
tec
hniq
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ap
plyi
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rodu
ct a
nd/o
r se
rvic
e kn
owle
dge,
sto
ck c
ontr
ol
and
loss
pre
vent
ion.
1. C
omm
unic
atio
n
2. S
hop
Floo
r
3. A
dvan
ced
Stoc
k C
ontr
ol
4. A
dvan
ced
Cus
tom
er S
ervi
ce
unDER
StAnDingYouRbuSinES
SEn
viRonMEn
tTh
is m
odul
e ch
alle
nges
tra
inee
s to
look
at
som
e of
the
ex
tern
al is
sues
tha
t fa
ce o
wne
rs o
r m
anag
ers
sett
ing
up
or w
orki
ng in
the
ir bu
sine
ss, a
nd h
ow t
hey
can
affe
ct
empl
oyee
s. It
is a
n in
tera
ctiv
e an
d fu
n m
odul
e w
here
tr
aine
es lo
ok b
eyon
d th
emse
lves
in t
he w
orkp
lace
. Tr
aine
es w
ill b
e as
ked
to d
evel
op a
por
tfol
io w
hich
an
alys
es e
nviro
nmen
tal f
acto
rs t
hat
can
impa
ct a
bu
sine
ss.
1. T
he lo
cal e
nviro
nmen
t
2. N
atio
nal a
nd in
tern
atio
nal f
acto
rs
MA
NA
giN
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pp
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illS
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rk
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OM
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Leve
l 2
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Ok
Description
Whatitcove
rs
YEAR1YEAR2YEAR3
MAnAgingYouRSE
lf
This
mod
ule
will
dev
elop
ski
lls a
nd t
echn
ique
s th
at w
ill
help
the
app
rent
ice
in t
heir
job
and
pers
onal
life
, now
an
d in
the
fut
ure.
1. M
anag
e yo
ur o
wn
lear
ning
2. S
olvi
ng p
robl
ems
3. C
opin
g w
ith c
hang
e
nAtionAlCER
tifiCAtE
inREt
Ail
)LE
vEL
2)
This
qua
lifica
tion
focu
ses
on t
asks
com
mon
to
all r
etai
lers
an
d en
cour
ages
lear
ning
‘on
the
job’
.
The
qual
ifica
tion
prov
ides
a b
road
ove
rvie
w o
f th
e re
tail
envi
ronm
ent.
1. C
usto
mer
Ser
vice
2. R
ules
and
Reg
ulat
ions
3. S
ellin
g
4. S
tock
Con
trol
MAnAgingin
foRMAtion
This
mod
ule
will
dev
elop
ski
lls a
nd t
echn
ique
s th
at w
ill
help
the
app
rent
ice
man
age
info
rmat
ion
- w
here
to
find
it an
d ho
w t
o us
e it.
Thi
s m
odul
e al
so c
over
s w
ritin
g in
pl
ain
Engl
ish.
1. W
hat
do y
ou n
eed
to k
now
abo
ut
2. W
here
can
you
find
info
rmat
ion
3. C
hoos
ing
the
info
rmat
ion
you
need
4. W
ritin
g in
pla
in E
nglis
h
nAtionAlCER
tifiCAtE
inREt
Ail
(L
EvEL
3)
This
qua
lifica
tion
is r
ecog
nise
d as
the
sup
ervi
sory
leve
l ce
rtifi
cate
for
the
ret
ail i
ndus
try.
The
qual
ifica
tion
cove
rs s
kills
suc
h as
: giv
ing
verb
al
inst
ruct
ions
, res
pond
ing
to c
usto
mer
s’ c
ompl
aint
s, u
sing
kn
owle
dge
of le
gisl
atio
n, c
usto
mer
ser
vice
tec
hniq
ues,
ap
plyi
ng p
rodu
ct a
nd/o
r se
rvic
e kn
owle
dge,
sto
ck c
ontr
ol
and
loss
pre
vent
ion.
1. C
omm
unic
atio
n
2. S
hop
Floo
r
3. A
dvan
ced
Stoc
k C
ontr
ol
4. A
dvan
ced
Cus
tom
er S
ervi
ce
unDER
StAnDingYouRbuSinES
SEn
viRonMEn
tTh
is m
odul
e ch
alle
nges
tra
inee
s to
look
at
som
e of
the
ex
tern
al is
sues
tha
t fa
ce o
wne
rs o
r m
anag
ers
sett
ing
up
or w
orki
ng in
the
ir bu
sine
ss, a
nd h
ow t
hey
can
affe
ct
empl
oyee
s. It
is a
n in
tera
ctiv
e an
d fu
n m
odul
e w
here
tr
aine
es lo
ok b
eyon
d th
emse
lves
in t
he w
orkp
lace
. Tr
aine
es w
ill b
e as
ked
to d
evel
op a
por
tfol
io w
hich
an
alys
es e
nviro
nmen
tal f
acto
rs t
hat
can
impa
ct a
bu
sine
ss.
1. T
he lo
cal e
nviro
nmen
t
2. N
atio
nal a
nd in
tern
atio
nal f
acto
rs
Pull
this
pag
e ou
t, a
nd u
se a
s a
quic
k re
fere
nce
guid
e.
MA
NA
giN
giN
for
MA
tio
N
ret
Ail
Mo
der
N A
pp
reN
tice
Serv
ing
Cus
tom
ers
Han
dlin
g C
ompl
aint
sG
ivin
g In
stru
ctio
nsM
anag
ing
Mon
ey
Ad
vA
nce
d c
ust
om
er s
erv
ice
Leve
l 3
Wo
rk
bo
ok
Team
wor
kSt
ock
Con
trol
Prev
entin
g St
ock
Loss
Ad
vA
nce
d S
tock
co
ntr
ol
Leve
l 3
Wo
rk
bo
ok
Selli
ng S
kills
Stoc
k C
are
and
Mai
nten
ance
Safe
Wor
k Pr
actic
es
Ret
ail
Sh
op
Flo
oR
Leve
l 3
Wo
Rk
bo
ok
List
enin
g Sk
ills
Giv
ing
Feed
back
Prod
uct
and
Serv
ice
Kno
wle
dge
Legi
slat
ion
Ret
ail
Co
mm
un
iCa
tio
nLe
vel 3
Wo
Rk
bo
ok
ret
ail
mo
der
n a
pp
ren
tice
bu
sin
ess
env
iro
nm
ent
un
der
sta
nd
ing
yo
ur
If th
e ap
pren
tice
finis
hes
the
prog
ram
me
in
unde
r 3
year
s th
ey h
ave
the
oppo
rtun
ity t
o st
art
the
Nat
iona
l Cer
tifica
te in
Ret
ail L
evel
4.
kee
pin
g y
ou
r
bu
sin
ess
pr
ofi
tab
le
Leve
l 4h
igh
-per
for
min
g t
eam
s
Leve
l 4
lead
ersh
ip d
evel
opm
ent
Leve
l 4
tra
inin
g a
nd
ass
essm
ent
in t
he
wo
rk
pla
ce p
ar
t 1
Leve
l 4
Selecting a workplace mentor
A workplace mentor is somebody within the business who can show the Modern Apprentice the practical skills required for their training. It might be a store manager, department supervisor, or an experienced staff member.
The workplace mentor should have regular contact with the Modern Apprentice, so they can observe them applying their skills and offer advice and guidance.
How can I support my apprentice?
Verification
When the apprentice has completed each part of their training they will need to be assessed on what they have learned. They will need a verifier to confirm that they have the skills and knowledge for which you are being assessed.
verification is a common practice in workplace assessment and is usually in the form of a document signed by someone to verify that a trainee can complete a particular task or has some particular skills.
A verifier can be, a manager, supervisor, trainer, Modern Apprentice Coordinator, assessor or someone who regularly observes the apprentice in a normal working environment
The verifier will be required to: • Observetheapprenticeatwork• Commentontheirobservations• Signtheverificationsheetstoconfirmthatthe
apprentice consistently perform tasks to the required standard
• Confirmprocessesthattakeplaceintheworkplace.
Acknowledge achievement
The Modern Apprentice will be working through the material and achieving unit standards regularly. The best motivator to keep your Modern Apprentice on track is to acknowledge their hard work when they complete assessments.
Resources
Provide your Modern Apprentice with information and documents about your company policies and procedures. The Modern Apprentice will be able to see how legislation and health and safety are managed within your company.
‘The programme helps develop people and recognises that retailing is a great skill and a trade. My staff have matured and have shown a great degree of “stickability” since completing.’
Hardware Retailer
For more information the apprenticeship programme please contact the Retail Institute on 0800486738
a retail modern apprentice
chelsea furniss
Chelsea Furniss believes the Retail Modern Apprenticeship has helped her immensely at her job with Spex Eyewear.’I have learnt so much since starting the programme. It has given me skills and knowledge to draw from when working. The course encourages you to use the information in very practical situations,’ she says.
‘During Chelsea’s two years with Spex Eyewear her performance, motivation and retail skills have improved immensely,’ says her manager Terri Coates. ‘Chelsea has worked hard to maintain her skills base and is focused on customer service, instore displays and learning about the products.’
The Retail Modern Apprenticeship has also helped Chelsea in other areas of her life. ‘It has given me confidence in my work, which in turn has helped me feel more relaxed when singing in front of people etc. It has also given me a sense of purpose for the meantime, which is always good, knowing you are working towards something.’
Discover the difference that a young person with the right attitude, ability and motivation can make to your team - and your bottom line.
0800 486 738Level 8, Willbank House57WillisStreet,POBox24-341Wellington 6142
TEL 04 499 3078FAX 04 499 [email protected]