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Retail jeweller

  • Hours

    37-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £16,000 + per year



The work

As a retail jeweller, you would promote and sell jewellery to customers, which could range from precious metals and gems to lower-cost fashion accessories, watches, clocks and silverware. You would typically work in stores owned by large high street retailers, although you could manage your own independent store. Some tasks will overlap with the role of a general sales assistant.

Your day-to-day duties would include:

  • advising customers on the products available
  • helping them to choose the most appropriate items
  • arranging the displays in windows and show cabinets
  • taking payments for goods and issuing receipts
  • carrying out stock control and other administrative tasks.

Your work may also involve:

  • gift wrapping goods
  • carrying out repairs and adjustments
  • providing a jewellery cleaning service
  • valuing precious metals, jewellery, clocks and watches for insurance or sale purposes.

As an independent or craft jeweller, you might also be involved in designing and making the items of jewellery you sell.


Hours

You would typically work 37 to 40 hours a week, including weekends. Opportunities for overtime and part-time work are common.

You would be based in a retail setting and you would need to give a good first impression to customers, which includes being well presented and possibly wearing a uniform.


Income

  • Starting salaries can be around £16,000 a year
  • Luxury retail jewellers may earn around £30,000 a year.

Salaries for sales staff may be based on commission and the number of items sold.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You may not need any specific qualifications to become a retail jeweller, however, some employers may prefer you to have GCSEs (A-C) or equivalent in subjects such as English, maths, art or design and technology. Experience of metalwork may also be useful.

You are likely to have an advantage if you have previous experience in a retail or customer care environment.


Training and development

You will usually be trained on the job, which will often involve working alongside and learning from experienced colleagues. You may also be encouraged to study a Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Retail Skills.

You could also work towards qualifications run by the National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG), such as:

  • Professional Jewellers' Diploma, which includes an introduction to gems, hallmarking, precious metals, sales and customer care
  • Professional Jewellers' Management Diploma, aimed at existing or potential shop managers.

Both courses are offered on a distance learning basis. The NAG also run short seminars in retail jewellery skills and courses in subjects like Valuations and Window Displays.

You can also search the Jewellery and Allied Industries Training Council (JAITC) website for details of courses in a variety of aspects of the jewellery industry, run by a range of providers.


Skills and knowledge

  • good communication skills
  • a polite and approachable manner
  • the ability to sell and promote goods
  • good problem solving skills
  • patience, accuracy and attention to detail
  • the ability to carry out simple financial transactions and handle cash
  • security consciousness when dealing with valuable goods
  • the ability to work on your own initiative, as well as part of a team
  • practical skills and good hand-eye coordination for repair work
  • an interest in precious metal, gemstones, jewellery or fashion.

More information

Skillsmart Retail (Opens new window)
Fourth Floor
93 Newman Street
London
W1T 3EZ
Tel: 0800 093 5001
www.skillsmartretail.com

National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG) (Opens new window)
78A Luke Street
London
EC2A 4XG
Tel: 020 7613 4445
www.jewellers-online.org

Jewellery and Allied Industries Training Council (JAITC) (Opens new window)
British Jewellers’ Association
10 Vyse Street
Birmingham
B18 6LT
www.jaitc.org.uk


Opportunities

You could work within jewellery retail outlets on most high streets throughout the UK (the majority are owned by large retail chains).

You would usually start in a customer service role and with experience you could progress to specialist repairs, store management and buying. Alternatively, you could go on to open your own jewellery business.

Jobs may be advertised through Directgov (Jobseekers page), Jobcentre Plus offices, the local and national press, on employers' websites, and specialist sites like jewelleryjobs.com and jobsinjewellery.com. You may also find the JAITC website and publications such as Retail Jeweller Magazine, and The Jeweller useful.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

Retail activity can be expressed as the sale of goods for personal or household use or consumption, traditionally via shops or markets. However, the boundaries have changed somewhat in recent years due to the significant growth in online retailing and the development of alternative formats such as farmers’ markets and travel retailing.

The UK retail industry covers the following activity:

  • Retail sales in non-specialised stores (such as supermarkets and department stores)
  • Retail sales in specialised stores (such as butchers, greengrocers and fishmongers)
  • Retail sales of pharmaceutical goods (such as chemists and pharmacies)
  • Retail sales of new goods in specialised stores (such as stores selling textiles, clothing, books, electrical household appliances, furniture and lighting)
  • Retail sales of second-hand goods
  • Retail sales not in store (e.g. catalogue and mail order sales, online and via stalls and markets)

Within retail, there are an estimated 295,000 businesses selling a wide range of products, employing from one person to thousands of people, all who have a number of functions.

The retail industry is represented by Skillsmart Retail Sector Skills Council.

Key facts:

  • UK retail accounts for £321 billion turnover and one‐third of all consumers spending.
  • It is the largest private sector employer and employs around 2.9 million people or 1 in 10 of the working population.
  • 13% of people employed within retail do not have an NVQ qualification, 22% have a NVQ level 2 qualification and 34% have a NVQ level 3 or higher qualification.
  • Much of the employment and turnover in retail is accounted for by a few dominant retailers, who operate both nationally and internationally.
  • Just 10 retailers employ around a third of all those who work in retail.
  • There are a substantial number of smaller retailers who operate locally or in niche markets.
  • New emerging markets and job opportunities to support the online retailing are needed.
  • The current economic climate is affecting all areas of retail business, but online retailers and value/discount stores are showing signs of growth.
  • Between 2007 and 2017, 214,000 new retail jobs are expected to be created in UK, while a further 1.2 million jobs will need to be filled as a result of people leaving the sector.

Jobs in the industry are divided into areas: Store operations, Human resources/training, Finance and administration, Buying, Merchandising, Customer contact centres, PR and Marketing, Logistics, and Information Technology.

Job roles range from: Director of operations, Store manager, Assistant department manager, Sales assistant, Shelf filler, Recruitment officer, Financial analyst, Procurement manager, Merchandiser, Buyer, Contact centre operators, Marketeer, Information analyst, Van driver, Warehouse / distribution manager, Information systems managers.


National and regional data

Retail employment and activity are evenly distributed across the UK, with the largest number of employees is located in:

  • South East
  • London
  • East of England
  • North West

The largest number of employers is located in: London; the South East; and the North West. There are distinct clusters of major centres of retail in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester and Derby.

The highest percentage growth in employment over the next five years is expected in the North East, whilst significant declines are forecast in the South East, London and the North West.

Retail can play an important role in the regeneration of towns and cities throughout the UK. It provides a catalyst for change, as retailers seek to enhance their offer to the consumer and modernise the spaces within which they trade.

East Midlands – There are 189,408 people employed in the industry, in around 19,634 retail establishments. 63% of the workforce is female. 43% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling and verbal communication skills.

East of England – There are 274,350 people employed in the industry, in around 25,258 retail establishments. 60% of the workforce is female. 42% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, problem solving and management skills.

London – There are 376,523 people employed in the industry, in around 39,414 retail establishments. 55% of the workforce is female. 50% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with management, customer handling and problem solving skills.

North East – There are 106,513 people employed in the industry, in around 10,569 retail establishments. 65% of the workforce is female. 41% of the workforce work full‐time.

North West – There are 318,406 people employed in the industry, in around 32,814 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 45% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with technical, practical or job specific skills, team working and management skills.

South East – There are 398,069 people employed in the industry, in around 38,926 retail establishments. 59% of the workforce is female. 44% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, technical, practical or job specific and team working skills.

South West – There are 254,668 people employed in the industry, in around 26,398 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 42% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, technical, practical or job specific and management skills.

West Midlands – There are 237,529 people employed in the industry, in around 25,352 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 43% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with team working and customer handling skills.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 236,430 people employed in the industry, in around 24,251 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 44% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with management skills.

Northern Ireland – There are 74,491 people employed in the industry, in around 9,805 retail establishments. 58% of the workforce is female. 54% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, written communication and management skills.

Scotland – There are 245,960 people employed in the industry, in around 23,978 retail establishments. 62% of the workforce is female. 44% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, written communication and management skills.

Wales – There are 133,459 people employed in the industry, in around 13,765 retail establishments. 63% of the workforce is female. 42% of the workforce work full‐time. The greatest perceived skills shortage is with customer handling, written communication and management skills.

[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2008, Labour Force Survey (annualised), 2009, and NESS, 2009.]


Career paths


Further sources


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