NOCN · RQF Level 2
NOCN Level 2 Diploma in Retail Skills
You don’t just earn this. You learn to use it, one-to-one, on your own real work.
- LevelRQF Level 2
- Total credits37
- Guided learning116 hours
- Units in this qualification82
Awarded by NOCN · on the Ofqual register
Start here
See how this course maps onto your role
Ten quick questions, one per Future Fluency, asked against this qualification rather than a generic one.
About 5 minutes · No card · Nothing to commit to
What you’ll learn
What each unit actually teaches you to do
Qualification Number 600/7147/3 Total Qualification Time (TQT) 370 Credits 37 Minimum Age 16 Level Level 2 Registration Start Date 1/12/2012 Current Tariff £110.00 The suite of NOCN Level 2 Retail Skills qualifications are designed for people working in the retail industry, including retail sales people, retail assistants, counter assistants, stockroom/warehouse assistants, visual merchandisers, cash point operators and managers in these roles. The suite of qualifications are particularly suitable for those who need to: understand the business of retail understand customer service in the retail sector understand how a retail business maintains health, safety and security on its premises understand the retail selling process understand how individuals and teams contribute to the effectiveness of a retail business understand the control, handling and replenishment of stock in a retail business understand the handling of customer payments in a retail business work effectively in a retail team keep stock at required levels in a retail environment keep a retail unit secure maintain health and safety in a retail environment.
These are the units NOCN registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated, and every one you earn is yours to keep.
Advise customers on the fixing and care of tilesReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Determine customer requirements for fixing tiles through effective questioning and listening techniques.
- Explain clearly and accurately to customers the correct procedures for fixing tiles, taking into account different tile types and surfaces.
- Recommend appropriate additional products, such as adhesives, grouts, and tools, to customers based on their specific tiling project needs.
Assemble products for display in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Assemble products for display in a retail environment, following instructions and guidelines.
- Assemble products for display in a retail environment, ensuring the display is visually appealing and safe for customers.
Assemble visual merchandising displaysReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose of layout design in visual merchandising
- Interpret instructions for assembling visual merchandising displays, including diagrams and written specifications
- Assemble visual merchandising displays according to instructions, ensuring accuracy and stability
Audit stock levels and stock inventories in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Implement a stock audit in a retail environment, following established procedures
- Use the findings of an audit to identify discrepancies in stock levels and stock inventories
- Resolve problems with stock levels and stock inventories, based on audit findings
- Communicate the results of an audit to relevant personnel, using appropriate methods
Carry out promotional campaigns in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the various opportunities available to promote particular products within a retail environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to promote products effectively to customers as part of a promotional campaign.
- Contribute to the evaluation of a promotional campaign, providing feedback on its effectiveness and areas for improvement.
Cash up in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Cash up accurately in a retail environment, following established procedures and organisational policies
Check stock levels and sort out problems with stock levels in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose of checking stock levels in a retail environment, including the benefits for the organisation and the customer.
- Check stock levels in a retail environment accurately and as instructed by a supervisor or manager.
- Deal with stock-related problems that arise when checking stock levels in a retail environment, or report them to the appropriate person according to organisational procedures.
Check the accuracy of records of hours worked by staff in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of maintaining accurate records of the hours worked by staff in a retail environment, including legal and organisational requirements
- Understand the level of service that needs to be provided to colleagues in relation to records of the number of hours they have worked, ensuring confidentiality and accuracy
- Check the accuracy of records of hours worked by staff in a retail environment, identifying and resolving any discrepancies
- Provide information about the number of hours worked by staff in a retail environment, in a clear and concise manner, adhering to organisational procedures
Choose merchandise to feature in visual merchandising displaysReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose and benefits of featuring specific merchandise in visual merchandising displays to attract customers and drive sales.
- Evaluate merchandise based on its display potential, considering factors such as visual appeal, relevance to current promotions, and target audience.
- Effectively communicate and liaise with relevant decision-makers regarding the selection of merchandise to be featured in visual merchandising displays, presenting clear justifications for choices.
Contribute to improving a retail organisation’s visual merchandising policyReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how effective visual merchandising and visual design can benefit a retail organisation, including increased sales and improved brand image.
- Evaluate the organisation’s current approach to visual design, identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
- Recommend new ideas and innovative approaches to enhance the organisation’s visual design, based on current trends and best practices.
- Support staff in putting the organisation’s visual design policy into practice, providing guidance and assistance as needed.
Contribute to monitoring and maintaining ease of shopping in a retail sales areaReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know how the layout and appearance of the sales floor influences sales and the customer experience.
- Maintain own area of the sales floor during trading hours, ensuring it is clean, tidy, and well-stocked.
- Report problems that could have a negative effect on the customer experience, such as hazards, spillages, or stock shortages, to the appropriate person.
Contribute to the continuous improvement of retail operations within own area of responsibilityReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how own area of responsibility can contribute to the overall success of the retail organisation
- Understand how to motivate staff in own area of responsibility to support and contribute to the continuous improvement of retail operations
- Evaluate achievements of organisational performance measures for retail operations within own area of responsibility
- Develop recommendations for improving the effectiveness of retail operations
- Recommend ideas for improving the effectiveness of retail operations to decision makers
- Contribute to the implementation of planned improvements to retail operations within own area of responsibility
Deal with customer queries and complaints in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how resolving customer queries and complaints contributes to customer loyalty and confidence within a retail environment
- Understand how to manage angry customers when dealing with customer queries and complaints in a retail environment
- Deal with customer queries in a retail environment, following organisational procedures
- Deal with customer complaints in a retail environment, following organisational procedures
Deliver goods from a retail environment to the customer’s delivery addressReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of the delivery person in promoting a positive impression of the retail organisation
- Understand the key aspects of customer service during the delivery process
- Prepare goods for delivery from a retail environment to customers’ delivery addresses, ensuring they are secure and protected
- Plan the delivery route to customers’ delivery addresses, taking into account factors such as traffic and time constraints
- Convey goods safely and efficiently from a retail environment to customers’ delivery addresses
- Communicate effectively with customers during the delivery process
- Complete deliveries of goods at customers’ delivery addresses, obtaining necessary signatures and providing relevant information
Demonstrate make-up and skincare products to customers at a beauty counter in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the commercial value of demonstrating make-up and skincare products in terms of sales and customer loyalty
- Understand the importance of product knowledge and effective communication skills in a demonstration
- Understand the elements of a successful demonstration of make-up and skincare products, including preparation, application, and conclusion
- Prepare the beauty counter and products for demonstrating make-up and skincare products to customers in a retail environment
- Select appropriate make-up or skincare products for individual customers based on their needs and preferences
- Apply make-up or skincare products to customers safely and hygienically as part of a demonstration
- Provide advice and guidance to customers on the use and benefits of make-up and skincare products
- Conclude a demonstration of make-up or skincare products by answering customer questions and promoting sales
Demonstrate products to customers in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how effective product demonstrations can contribute to increased sales in a retail environment.
- Make the necessary preparations to ensure a safe and efficient product demonstration area.
- Effectively communicate the key features and benefits of the products being demonstrated to customers.
- Tidy and restore the demonstration area to its original condition after a product demonstration is finished.
Deputise for the leader of a retail teamReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the required standards of performance for the retail team when deputising for the team leader, ensuring consistent service delivery.
- Understand effective strategies for gaining the co-operation and support of the retail team when deputising for the team leader, fostering a positive and productive working environment.
- Maintain the established standards of performance of the retail team when deputising for the team leader, addressing any performance issues promptly and effectively.
- Manage the morale of the retail team effectively when deputising for the team leader, providing encouragement and support to maintain a positive atmosphere.
- Manage own performance effectively when deputising for the team leader, demonstrating leadership qualities and taking responsibility for team outcomes.
Design visual merchandising display layoutsReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of effective display layout design in visual merchandising, recognising its impact on customer engagement and sales.
- Understand the key elements of creative layout design solutions, including colour, composition, and focal points.
- Understand the importance of well-designed display layouts to those responsible for assembling and maintaining them, ensuring clarity and ease of implementation.
- Develop creative and innovative ideas for visual merchandising display layouts, considering target audience and product characteristics.
- Produce clear and concise guidance to enable the accurate and efficient assembly of display layouts, including instructions and visual aids.
Dismantle and store props and graphics from visual merchandising displaysReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of carefully storing props and graphics after use in visual merchandising displays, for potential future use.
- Dismantle visual merchandising displays safely and efficiently, following established procedures.
- Store props and graphics from dismantled visual merchandising displays in a suitable location, ensuring they are protected from damage and easily accessible.
Display stock to promote sales to customers in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of checking for potential health and safety issues before setting up displays in a retail environment
- Understand the importance of checking for potential health and safety issues before dismantling displays in a retail environment
- Understand how displays help to promote sales to customers
- Know about legal requirements for labelling products in a display
- Establish the availability of space needed for a display
- Establish the availability of other resources needed for a display
- Prepare a display area for use in a retail environment
- Set up a display in a retail environment
- Label a display of stock in a retail environment
- Dismantle a display in a retail environment
Dress visual merchandising displays to attract customersReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose of visual merchandising displays in attracting customers
- Understand how visual merchandising displays achieve their intended purposes, including the use of colour, lighting, and layout
- Dress in-store displays according to a given brief or plan
- Dress window displays according to a given brief or plan, ensuring they are visually appealing and meet organisational requirements
Evaluate the effectiveness of visual merchandising displaysReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the types of evidence used to evaluate the effectiveness of visual merchandising displays, such as sales figures, customer feedback, and footfall data.
- Gather information about customers' responses to visual merchandising displays through observation, surveys, or other appropriate methods.
- Analyse information from customers' responses to evaluate the effectiveness of visual merchandising displays, identifying areas for improvement and making recommendations for future displays.
Finish bake-off food products in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the baking processes that apply to bake-off food products, including temperature and timing requirements.
- Understand the cooling processes that apply to bake-off food products, ensuring food safety and quality.
- Know the legal requirements that apply to bake-off products, including food safety regulations and labelling requirements.
- Know the organisational requirements that apply to bake-off products, including stock rotation and waste management.
- Finish the baking process of bake-off products in a retail environment, following instructions and maintaining quality standards.
Finish meat products by hand in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Thoroughly check the suitability of meat products for finishing in a retail environment, ensuring they meet quality standards and customer expectations.
- Efficiently organise own work area and equipment to facilitate the effective and safe finishing of meat products in a retail environment.
- Achieve the required meat product yield and desired finish, meeting organisational standards and customer requirements in a retail environment.
Follow guidelines for planning and preparing visual merchandising displaysReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of visual merchandising displays in attracting customers and promoting products.
- Understand the importance of design briefs in guiding the creation of effective visual merchandising displays.
- Understand the selection of approaches and effects in visual merchandising displays, considering factors such as colour, lighting, and layout.
- Understand the sourcing of merchandise and props to be featured in visual merchandising displays, considering factors such as cost, availability, and suitability.
- Plan visual merchandising displays to fulfil a design brief, considering the target audience and desired message.
- Source merchandise and props to be featured in visual merchandising displays, ensuring they are appropriate and meet the requirements of the design brief.
Follow point-of-sale procedures for age-restricted products in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know about current legislation relating to the retail sale of age-restricted products, including the penalties for non-compliance
- Understand the importance of maintaining customer goodwill when requesting proof of age and dealing with potentially difficult situations
- Follow point-of-sale procedures accurately and efficiently for age-restricted products in a retail environment, in accordance with legal requirements and organisational policies
Give customers a positive impression of yourself and your organisation.Real unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Establish rapport with customers in a hire and rental environment
- Respond appropriately to customers in a hire and rental environment
- Communicate information effectively to customers in a hire and rental environment
- Understand how to give customers a positive impression of yourself
- Understand how to give customers a positive impression of the organisation
Glaze, coat or decorate bake-off products for sale in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand and apply the relevant legal requirements and organisational policies and procedures that apply when glazing, coating, and decorating bake-off products in a retail environment, including food safety and hygiene standards.
- Glaze, coat, and decorate bake-off products effectively and efficiently in a retail environment, ensuring visual appeal and adherence to quality standards.
Hand-divide, mould and shape fermented doughReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Hand-divide fermented dough accurately according to specified weights, sizes, and quantities, following established recipes and instructions.
- Hand-mould and shape fermented dough into a variety of forms, maintaining consistency and quality in accordance with production requirements.
Hand-process fish in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand safe working practices in relation to hand-processing fish, including hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) and food safety regulations
- Understand the relationship between the anatomy of fish and the way fish are hand-processed, including different cuts and preparation methods
- Hand-process fish effectively and safely, using appropriate techniques and equipment
- Maintain own work area in a condition fit for hand-processing fish, ensuring cleanliness and compliance with hygiene standards
Help customers to apply for a retail store’s credit card and associated insurance productsReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the legal requirements relating to informing customers about insurance products associated with a retail store’s credit card.
- Understand the importance of helping customers to understand the implications of applying for a retail store’s credit card and associated insurance products, including interest rates, fees, and repayment terms.
- Understand the legal requirements relating to helping customers to apply for the store’s credit card and associated insurance products, including data protection and responsible lending practices.
- Offer customers insurance products associated with the store’s credit card in a clear, accurate, and compliant manner.
- Help customers to apply for a retail store’s credit card and associated insurance products, ensuring all necessary documentation is completed correctly and submitted according to organisational procedures.
Help customers to choose alcoholic beverages in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand legislation relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages in a retail environment
- Understand the characteristics of different alcoholic beverages
- Comply with legal requirements when helping customers choose alcoholic beverages in a retail environment
- Help customers to choose alcoholic beverages in a retail environment
Help customers to choose delicatessen products in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Use effective communication techniques to find out what customers are looking for at the delicatessen counter, including their preferences, dietary requirements, and intended use of the products.
- Suggest delicatessen products that meet customer needs, providing information on flavour profiles, ingredients, preparation methods, and potential pairings.
Help customers to choose products in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of focusing on the individual customer’s requirements to provide excellent customer service and increase sales.
- Know how sales are confirmed with the customer, including processing payments and providing receipts.
- Know how sales are closed with the customer, including thanking the customer and inviting them to return.
- Find out what products customers may be interested in buying through effective questioning and active listening.
- Help customers to choose the products that best meet their needs by providing relevant information and advice.
- Close sales by confirming the customer's choice and processing the transaction efficiently.
Help customers to choose specialist products in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand commercial awareness in relation to the organisation
- Understand commercial awareness in relation to the organisation's target market
- Understand commercial awareness in relation to the organisation's product offer
- Understand the specialist products within own area of responsibility
- Initiate a rapport with customers
- Develop a rapport with customers
- Match specialist products to individual customer requirements
- Maintain own product knowledge in relation to specialist products
- Maintain own expertise in relation to specialist products
Identify and report the presence of pests, diseases and disordersReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Identify the presence of common pests, diseases and disorders that may affect plants or products in a retail environment.
- Report the presence of any identified pests, diseases or disorders to the appropriate person, following organisational procedures.
- Work safely when identifying and reporting pests, diseases and disorders, minimising any potential environmental damage.
- Know relevant health and safety legislation and environmental good practice related to the identification and reporting of pests, diseases and disorders in a retail environment.
Keep stock on sale at required levels in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the relationship between stock levels and demand for stock in a retail environment, including the impact of overstocking and understocking
- Understand the relationship between stock levels and the quality of stock on sale, including the importance of stock rotation and preventing spoilage
- Check the level of stock on sale in a retail environment accurately and efficiently, identifying items that need replenishing
- Replenish stock on sale in a retail environment promptly and effectively, ensuring that shelves are adequately stocked and that stock is displayed attractively
Load orders for despatch from a retail store to customersReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know why it is important to work safely in the loading area
- Know how own working practices contribute to an efficient delivery service
- Keep loading facilities in a usable condition
- Keep loading equipment in a usable condition
- Ensure that orders are ready for loading
- Load orders into delivery vehicles
Maintain food safety while working with food in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know how own personal hygiene and behaviour contribute to food safety in a retail environment, preventing contamination
- Deal with indicators of potential food safety hazards in a retail environment, such as damaged packaging or signs of pests
- Keep self and clothes clean while working with food in a retail environment, adhering to hygiene standards
- Deal with indicators of potential food safety hazards in a retail environment, taking appropriate action to mitigate risks
Maintain food safety while working with food in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know how food in a retail environment can become unsafe for consumers, including potential hazards and contamination risks.
- Know the routine working practices that contribute to maintaining food safety standards in a retail environment.
- Maintain own work area in a clean and safe condition, suitable for working with food products.
- Handle and work with food in a manner that ensures its safety for customers, minimising the risk of contamination.
- Accurately record the condition of food products, including temperature, date codes, and any signs of spoilage.
Maintain moisture levels for crops or plantsReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know why it is important to maintain moisture levels for crops and plants, including the impact on growth, yield, and quality.
- Know the types of equipment required for maintaining moisture levels and how to maintain them in good working order.
- Know the current health and safety legislation and environmental good practice relevant to maintaining moisture levels for crops and plants.
- Select, use and maintain equipment safely and effectively for maintaining moisture levels.
- Maintain moisture levels for crops and plants according to specific requirements, using appropriate techniques and monitoring systems.
- Work safely and minimise environmental damage when maintaining moisture levels, following established procedures and guidelines.
Maintain the availability of goods on display in a retail environment to promote salesReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how the display of goods can promote sales and enhance the customer experience
- Understand legal and organisational requirements for displaying goods in a retail environment, including health and safety regulations
- Organise staff to display goods for retail sale, ensuring effective use of resources
- Evaluate the effectiveness of displays in terms of sales and customer engagement
- Maintain the required quantity and quality of goods on display, replenishing stock as needed
Make props and decorate fixtures and panels for visual merchandising displaysReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose of props within visual merchandising displays and their contribution to the overall display
- Specify requirements for visual merchandising props, considering factors such as size, colour, and material
- Make props for use in visual merchandising displays, using appropriate tools and techniques
- Decorate fixtures and panels for visual merchandising displays, ensuring they are visually appealing and meet the display requirements
Manage budgets for visual merchandising projectsReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of controlling expenditure on visual merchandising projects, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adherence to budget constraints.
- Understand the concept of ‘value for money’ when managing visual merchandising projects, balancing cost with quality and impact.
- Agree costs with relevant decision-makers for visual merchandising projects, obtaining necessary approvals and ensuring transparency.
- Control costs effectively throughout visual merchandising projects, monitoring expenditure and identifying potential savings.
- Keep colleagues informed about expenditure on visual merchandising projects, providing regular updates and addressing any concerns.
Manage staff to receive goods in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Manage staff to receive and check incoming deliveries of goods in a retail environment, ensuring adherence to organisational procedures and health and safety regulations
Manage the payment transaction process in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Monitor payment transaction processing in a retail environment to ensure accuracy and security
- Identify and address any issues or discrepancies in payment transactions
- Manage the operation of payment points in a retail environment, including troubleshooting technical problems
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and procedures related to payment processing
- Handle cash and other forms of payment securely and responsibly
Manage the prevention of wastage and loss in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the purpose and function of loss-control and stock-taking systems within a retail environment, recognising their importance in preventing wastage and loss.
- Monitor own work area security diligently in a retail environment, identifying and addressing potential security risks.
- Promote security consciousness among colleagues, encouraging them to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
- Investigate instances of loss of stock, equipment, cash, and cash equivalents thoroughly, identifying the causes and implementing preventative measures.
- Take proactive measures to prevent wastage and loss within the retail environment, implementing best practices and promoting responsible behaviour.
Manage the use of signage and graphics in visual merchandising displaysReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how signage and graphics are used in visual merchandising displays to attract attention, communicate information, and promote products.
- Understand the importance of complying with legal requirements relating to the use of signage and graphics in visual merchandising, including advertising standards and consumer protection laws.
- Understand the importance of monitoring the use of signage and graphics in visual merchandising displays to ensure they remain effective, accurate, and compliant.
- Understand the importance of monitoring the use of signage and graphics in visual merchandising displays to ensure they remain effective, accurate, and compliant.
- Source the signage and graphics needed for visual merchandising displays, considering factors such as cost, quality, and availability.
- Co-ordinate the use of signage and graphics in visual merchandising displays, ensuring they are positioned correctly and effectively communicate the desired message.
- Monitor the use of signage and graphics in visual merchandising displays, identifying any issues and taking corrective action as necessary.
Merchandise plants and other relevant productsReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Effectively merchandise plants and other relevant products to maximise sales and appeal to customers.
- Merchandise plants and other products in an attractive and informative way, following established guidelines and best practices.
- Maintain the condition of plants for sale, ensuring they are healthy, well-presented and appealing to customers.
- Maintain plants in a condition ready for sale, including watering, feeding, pruning and removing any dead or damaged foliage.
Monitor and help improve food safety in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles of food safety management as they apply specifically to a retail environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively monitor critical control points within a retail environment, adhering to established procedures.
- Demonstrate the ability to deal effectively with problems identified during the monitoring of critical control points in a retail environment, taking appropriate corrective action.
- Ensure that all staff members consistently perform to the required standard for food safety within the retail environment, providing guidance and support as needed.
- Evaluate the nature and potential impact of various factors or issues that may affect the overall safety of food within a retail environment, identifying potential risks and vulnerabilities.
- Contribute actively to the ongoing improvement of food safety practices and procedures within a retail environment, suggesting and implementing enhancements.
Monitor and maintain health and safety in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand own role in controlling risks to health and safety in a retail environment
- Understand own responsibility for implementing accident and emergency procedures in a retail environment
- Control risks to health and safety in a retail environment
- Conduct risk assessments in a retail environment
- Implement accident and emergency procedures in a retail environment
Monitor and support secure payment point use during trading hoursReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the data security risks associated with payment point use, including fraud and data breaches.
- Monitor secure payment point use during trading hours, identifying and addressing potential security issues.
- Support secure payment point use during trading hours, assisting customers and staff with secure payment processes.
Operate a customer record card system on a beauty counter in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the procedures for maintaining the customer record card system in a retail environment, including data protection and confidentiality.
- Set up record cards accurately for customers at a beauty counter in a retail environment, collecting relevant information.
- Use the record card system effectively to recognise opportunities for increasing sales at a beauty counter in a retail environment, such as identifying repeat purchases or suggesting complementary products.
Order and position signage and graphics for visual merchandising displaysReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the role and importance of signage and graphics within visual merchandising displays.
- Understand how signage and graphics contribute to the overall visual appeal and effectiveness of a retail environment.
- Source appropriate signage and graphics that effectively meet the specific needs of visual merchandising displays.
- Position signage and graphics strategically to enhance visual merchandising and support sales objectives.
Organise and monitor the storage of stock in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the common causes of stock loss within retail storage systems and implement preventative measures to minimise such losses.
- Understand and adhere to the relevant legal and organisational requirements for the safe and secure storage of stock in a retail environment.
- Effectively organise the use of storage facilities in a retail environment to maximise space utilisation and ensure easy access to stock.
- Monitor the condition of stored stock and implement appropriate care procedures to prevent damage, deterioration, or spoilage.
Organise own work to meet a dough production schedule in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of maintaining health and safety regulations during dough production, including personal hygiene and food safety procedures.
- Understand why efficient and effective dough production is important to the organisation, considering factors such as cost, waste reduction, and customer satisfaction.
- Organise own work effectively to meet a dough production schedule in a retail environment, prioritising tasks and managing time efficiently.
Pick products in a retail environment to fulfil customer ordersReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Organise own work to pick orders efficiently and effectively within a retail environment
- Prioritise orders based on customer requirements and deadlines
- Pick products accurately in a retail environment to meet specific customer requirements
- Handle products carefully to avoid damage during the picking process
- Check picked orders for completeness and accuracy before despatch
- Prepare picked orders securely for collection or despatch from a retail environment, using appropriate packaging materials
Place goods and materials into storage in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the specific requirements for storing different types of goods and materials in a retail environment, including considerations for safety, security, and preservation.
- Know and apply procedures for identifying and resolving problems related to storage facilities and equipment, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the storage area.
- Safely and efficiently place goods and materials into designated storage locations within a retail environment, following established procedures and guidelines.
Portion delicatessen products to meet customer requirements in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Demonstrate the ability to accurately cut and weigh delicatessen products to meet specific customer requirements.
- Demonstrate the ability to wrap or package portioned delicatessen products appropriately for customers, ensuring food safety and presentation standards are met.
- Maintain the display of a delicatessen counter, ensuring it is well-stocked, visually appealing, and adheres to hygiene regulations.
Prepare newspapers and magazines for return to merchandisersReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Plan own work effectively to prepare newspapers and magazines for return to merchandisers, considering deadlines and logistical requirements.
- Gather together newspapers and magazines efficiently for return to merchandisers, ensuring all relevant items are collected.
- Prepare batches of newspapers and magazines appropriately for return to merchandisers, following established procedures.
- Complete the necessary administration associated with magazine and newspaper returns accurately and efficiently.
Process applications for credit agreements offered in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the legal aspects of offering credit agreements in a retail environment, including consumer credit regulations
- Understand legal aspects of processing credit agreement applications, including identity verification and affordability checks
- Process applications for credit agreements offered in a retail environment, following organisational procedures and legal requirements
Process customer orders for goods in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of providing excellent customer service when processing customer orders in a retail environment.
- Understand the correct and legal use of customer information when processing customer orders, in accordance with data protection regulations.
- Accurately determine what goods customers wish to order, clarifying details as necessary.
- Check the availability of the goods requested by customers, using appropriate systems and procedures.
- Accurately process customer orders, ensuring all details are correctly recorded and communicated.
Process greengrocery products for sale in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Prepare greengrocery products for sale
- Replenish displays of greengrocery products
- Maintain the quality of greengrocery products on display
Process payments for purchases in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand legal and organisational requirements for processing payments in a retail environment, including data protection and security
- Process payments for purchases in a retail environment using various methods, such as cash, card, and mobile payments
Process returned goods in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know the legal rights and responsibilities of both the retailer and the customer in relation to returned goods.
- Understand the importance of maintaining accurate stock control systems when processing returned goods.
- Assist retail customers who require assistance with returning goods, addressing their queries and concerns.
- Efficiently and accurately process returned goods in accordance with organisational procedures.
Produce staffing schedules to help a retail team to achieve its targetsReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the uses of staffing schedules for a retail team
- Understand the constraints upon the staffing schedules for a retail team
- Produce staffing schedules for a retail team
- Adjust staffing schedules to take account of changing operational needs
- Adjust staffing schedules to take account of changing constraints
Promote a retail store’s credit card to customers in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of promoting a retail store’s credit card to potential customers, explaining the benefits and features of the card.
- Understand the importance of promoting a retail store’s credit card to existing card holders, highlighting any new offers or benefits.
- Promote a retail store’s credit card to customers in a retail environment, adhering to relevant regulations and company policies.
Promote food or drink products by offering samples to customersReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the business reasons for offering samples of food or drink to customers, including increased sales and brand awareness.
- Set up attractive displays of food or drink samples, ensuring they are visually appealing to customers.
- Set up hygienic displays of food or drink samples, adhering to food safety standards and regulations.
- Interact with customers at a display of food or drink samples, providing information and answering questions.
- Dispose of food or drink samples in line with organisational procedures, minimising waste and maintaining hygiene.
Promote loyalty schemes to customers in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the benefits to the organisation of signing customers up to the organisation’s loyalty scheme, including increased customer retention and sales.
- Understand the importance of giving customers a good impression when promoting the organisation’s loyalty scheme, creating a positive brand image.
- Communicate to customers the features and benefits of the organisation’s loyalty scheme, highlighting the advantages of joining.
- Gain customers’ commitment to the organisation’s loyalty scheme, encouraging them to sign up and participate.
Protect own and others’ health and safety when working in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how to promote health and safety in own workplace, including identifying potential hazards and reporting them appropriately.
- Understand own role in protecting own and others’ health and safety, including following safety procedures and using personal protective equipment.
- Deal with accidents and emergencies in a retail environment, following established procedures and providing appropriate assistance.
- Protect own and others’ health and safety during day-to-day work activities, adhering to relevant legislation and workplace policies.
Provide National Lottery products to customersReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how the National Lottery operates, including its purpose, rules, and regulations.
- Use the service terminal to sell National Lottery products, following established procedures and security protocols.
- Communicate with customers concerning National Lottery products, providing accurate information and promoting responsible gambling.
- Process National Lottery prize payouts, verifying tickets and dispensing winnings accurately and efficiently.
Provide a bra fitting service in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the key elements involved in a bra fitting session within a retail environment.
- Know the features of different types of bra available in a retail setting.
- Know the benefits of different types of bra available in a retail setting.
- Understand how to prolong the life of a bra through appropriate care and maintenance.
- Know the established arrangements for obtaining bras, considering both in-stock and out-of-stock scenarios.
- Accurately fit customers for bras, taking into account individual needs and preferences.
- Identify potential customers for the bra fitting service within the retail environment.
- Accurately fit customers for bras, ensuring comfort and support.
Provide a counter and takeaway serviceReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Serve customers promptly and efficiently at the counter, taking orders accurately and providing excellent customer service.
- Understand the procedures for serving customers at the counter, including handling payments, providing information about products, and resolving customer queries.
- Maintain counter and service areas in a clean, organised, and hygienic condition, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
- Understand the importance of maintaining counter and service areas in a clean, organised, and hygienic condition, and the procedures for doing so.
Provide nutrients to crops or plantsReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know how nutrient requirements vary for different crops or plants and understand the appropriate method of application for each
- Know the types of equipment required for providing nutrients to crops or plants and understand how to maintain them in good working order
- Know the current health and safety legislation and environmental good practice guidelines relevant to providing nutrients to crops or plants
- Provide nutrients to plants or crops effectively, following established procedures and guidelines
- Work safely when providing nutrients to plants or crops and minimise environmental damage through responsible practices
- Select, use and maintain equipment appropriately for providing nutrients to plants or crops
Provide service to customers in a dressing room in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Use the dressing room facilities in a retail environment to identify and create sales opportunities.
- Take measures to minimise stock loss while serving customers in a dressing room in a retail environment.
- Keep dressing room facilities in a retail environment clean, tidy and ready for customer use.
- Process unsold merchandise in a dressing room in a retail environment efficiently and according to organisational procedures.
Receive goods and materials into storage in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of preparing for expected deliveries in a retail environment
- Understand own responsibility for handling goods and materials within the retail organisation
- Prepare the designated area to receive deliveries in a retail environment, ensuring it is safe and organised
- Receive deliveries into storage in a retail environment, following organisational procedures
Reduce security risks in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know about the different types of security risks that can arise in a retail environment
- Know about the potential impact of security risks on a retail organisation
- Implement measures to reduce security risks in a retail environment
- Respond appropriately to security incidents in a retail environment
Remove unwanted plant growth to maintain developmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Know the different types of unwanted plant growth, including weeds, pests, and diseases, and their impact on plant development.
- Maintain plant development by controlling unwanted plant growth and providing appropriate care.
- Know the types of equipment required for removing unwanted plant growth and how to maintain them in good working order.
- Know the current health and safety legislation and environmental good practice relevant to removing unwanted plant growth.
- Select, use and maintain equipment safely and effectively for removing unwanted plant growth.
- Identify unwanted plant growth accurately and differentiate it from desirable plants.
- Remove unwanted plant growth using appropriate methods and techniques, minimising damage to desirable plants.
- Work safely and minimise environmental damage when removing unwanted plant growth, following established procedures and guidelines.
Select, weigh and measure bakery ingredientsReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Check quantities of ingredients available against the recipe requirements to ensure sufficient stock.
- Select the correct ingredients required for the bakery product, ensuring they are of the required quality and freshness.
- Weigh and measure ingredients accurately using appropriate equipment and techniques, adhering to the recipe specifications.
Sort donated goods for resale or recycling in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Sort donated goods safely, taking into account potential hazards and following health and safety guidelines.
- Sort donated goods effectively and efficiently, separating items for selling or recycling according to organisational procedures and guidelines.
Source required goods and services in a retail environmentReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the role of suppliers when sourcing goods and services
- Source required goods and services
- Order goods and services
- Evaluate the performance of suppliers of stock for retail sale
Work effectively in a retail teamReal unit · NOCN
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how to recognise instances of discrimination, bullying and harassment within the workplace.
- Work effectively as a contributing member of a retail team, supporting colleagues and achieving shared goals.
- Identify areas for improvement in own work performance and implement strategies to enhance effectiveness within the retail team.
The honest bit
You’ve started things before
Most courses were built for a room full of people who aren’t you. A cohort moves on whether or not your week allowed it, and by the third week the thing you’re behind on becomes the reason you stop opening it.
There’s no cohort here, and no timetable to fall behind. Before anything starts, Zavmo asks when you’re sharpest and how long you can realistically sit down for, then builds the sessions around those answers. A bad fortnight changes your pace. It doesn’t put you behind.
And you only pay once you start learning. Searching and planning are free, and you can cancel any time — so the cost of finding out is an afternoon, not a year.
Your passport
Every credit is a stamp you keep
Level 2 credits are regulated. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you’ve earned and what’s next.
Each stamp is a real unit registered against this qualification.
Who’d teach you this

The Evidence Evaluator
Assessor
Helps you show what you can actually do, gathering the evidence that proves it as you learn.
Meet all twelve tutorsWhere this connects
Where these credits take you
A qualification is never a dead end here. See the jobs its credits open, the national occupational standards its units map to, and the future skills they quietly build.
- Call and validate main stage bingo games
- Demonstrate immersive products to clients and stakeholders
- Monitor takings practices and processes at the cash point in a food and drink retail environment
- Promote the Training and Competence Scheme to users
Where this can lead
Visual Merchandising Specialist
Your career path here isn't a rigid ladder; it's more like a climbing wall with many different routes to the top. We're here to help you find the path that best suits your strengths and ambitions, whether that's becoming a leader of people or a deep technical expert.
See the whole journey →Showing 6 roles, drawn from 46 job records mapped to this qualification.
Skills it covers
What the job actually needs. These are the standards the units are built against, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.
How you’ll actually learn this
One-to-one, on your own real work
A qualification is usually something done to you: sit the class, sit the exam, hope it sticks. Here it’s the opposite. You learn it one-to-one with a companion, on your own real work, and you keep going until you can use it, not just recall it.
Applied to your work in any of these jobs
This unit equips learners with the skills to advise customers on fixing and caring for tiles. Learners will establish customer requirements, explain correct fixing procedures, recommend additional products, and respond to queries to support customer satisfaction.
- Remember
- Understand
- Apply
- Analyse
- Evaluate
- Create
Built for NOCN Level 2 Diploma in Retail Skills
81 units in this credential, in the order it lists them, awarded by NOCN.
- Advise customers on the fixing and care of tiles
- Assemble products for display in a retail environment
- Assemble visual merchandising displays
- Audit stock levels and stock inventories in a retail environment
- Carry out promotional campaigns in a retail environment
- Cash up in a retail environment
and 75 more in the full unit list below.
One to one, not one to many
No two people run this the same way
A course is written once and handed to everyone. This is assembled around you, and keeps changing as it learns you. Five things it reads, and what each one changes.
- Your actual work Every unit is taught against a live piece of your own work, not a worked example from a textbook.
- What you already know The first conversation finds your starting point, so you skip what you can already do and spend the time on what you cannot.
- The conditions you learn under Not a learning-styles quiz. The evidence does not support those. The dimensions the research does back, read once and used to shape the plan.
- How far you got last time It picks up mid-thought. The tutor knows what you said, what you struggled with, and what it asked you to try.
- Which tutor suits the moment Twelve of them, each for a different kind of thinking. The one who walks you through a first idea is not the one who stress-tests it.
See how you learn, free. Eight questions, no sign-up. A directional taster; the diagnostic inside Zavmo goes deeper and keeps adapting.
Why it sticks
Most courses stop at remembering
There’s a well-known ladder of how deeply you learn something, called Bloom’s Taxonomy. Most courses get you up the first two rungs: you remember some facts, you pass a test, you forget it. Real skill lives at the top. Judging, deciding, creating. And this isn’t a generic ladder: every rung has a named Zavmo tutor who walks you up it.
- 6CreateThe Creative Catalyst
- 5EvaluateThe Evidence Evaluator
- 4AnalyseThe Analyst
- 3ApplyThe Coach
- 2UnderstandThe Connector
- 1RememberThe Builder
Where most courses leave you Where Zavmo takes you
The value
Why the companion is worth £70 a month
You’re not paying for the units. They’re regulated, and the same wherever you earn them. You’re paying for the one thing that decides whether you actually get there: a companion that makes them stick, on your real work.
That is one-to-one on this qualification, every day, on the work you already do, for £70 a month. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it. Billed monthly, cancel any time and billing stops.
Earned on your own work, taught to the top.
Everything you just read, learned one-to-one on the job you already do. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it.
Build my plan, freeNo card. See how this qualification maps onto your role and meet the tutors who’d teach it, free. The learning begins when you subscribe. It’s £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.