Skills Map User's Guide
A. Introduction to the Skills Map
The Skills Map shows people both inside and outside the industry what skills are needed to work in retail and, in simple terms, acts as a map of their learning and development. It also acts as a database of skills that is then used to create retail occupational qualifications.
The Skills Map is built on SkilSure® technology, which provides a user-friendly, easily accessible, visually appealing representation of the complex Skills and Qualifications Framework. Customised specifically for the Retail Sector, the SkilSure® Skills Map presents a comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand overview of all elements involved in the process, such as levels, job roles, job profiles, units and competencies.
There will eventually be ‘Skills Maps’ representing each of the eight major functions found in the retail industry. These are:
- Store Operations
- Buying and merchandising
- Customer contact centres
- Logistics
- Finance and administration
- Marketing and public relations
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
The maps will each show eight levels of demand from level one at the lowest through to level eight. These levels correspond to the hierarchy of roles in Stores Operations from entry-level occupations, such as shelf fillers, through to senior managers. The eight levels directly correspond with the levels of English/Welsh and Northern Irish vocational qualification levels and articulate to the Scottish twelve level framework and the eight level European framework.
2. Why would I want to use Skills Map?
Employers can use the nationally agreed competency matrix to map the skills their employees already have and to see how their employees can develop skills in line with career paths. It will also explain which nationally accredited qualifications are available, where these are sought.
3. What will the Skills Map do for me?
The Skills Map simplifies how you manage the expected skills and qualifications of your employees by giving you a visual representation of the competency hierarchy.
4. How do I use the Skills Map?
From the Skills Map main menu, you can view the entire Skills Map (Store Operations Skills Map) or specific sections of the Skills Map organised by occupations (Job Profiles Skills Map), such as Sales Assistant or Supervisor.
B. Store Operations Skills Map
1. As a retail manager, how do I use the Store Operations Skills Map?
The Skills Map provides you with a way of managing the expected skills and qualifications of your employees. With the Skills Map, you can quickly find answers to questions like:
- Is an employee qualified for a job?
- What are the specific skills (or competencies) an employee needs to perform a certain job (e.g. Stock Management)?
- What skills would an employee need for a specific job level (i.e., shelf filler vs. senior manager)?
- What are the Scottish & National Vocational Qualifications (S/NVQs) assigned to a skill level?
The Store Operations Skills Map benefits you by:
- Providing a quick and easy-to-use way to determine if an employee has the skills (i.e. is qualified) to perform a job.
- Presenting all of the essential information related to skills, qualifications and National Occupational Standards in one location.
- Presenting a complete picture of Store Operations.
2. How do I view the Store Operations Skills Map?
From the Skills Map main menu, click Store Operations – Skills Map:
The Skills Map for Store Operations opens in the same browser window.
3. What do the different sections of the Skills Map mean?
Now that you are able to view the Skills Map, it is important to understand how it is laid out and what each section means. Refer to the screenshot and the corresponding numbered sections below:
Levels
Levels are the different standings you achieve within a job based on the skills you possess. For example, a trainee is Level 1 (based on their competencies related to the job) while a senior manager would be Level 7 or Level 8.
In other words, competencies for each job role are organised by levels of demand from 0 (lowest) to 8 (highest). These levels correspond to the hierarchy of roles in Store Operations from elementary occupations, such as shelf fillers, through to senior managers. The competencies are summarised in a industry agreed Job Profile of people who work at that level. On the Skills Map, these levels appear on the right and left sides.
Job
Roles
Job Roles are types of jobs (e.g., Sales, Merchandising and Customer Service).
Job Roles appear across the bottom row of the Skills Map and are sorted into three groups: Retail Specific Skills (orange column), Professional Skills (blue column) and Generic Skills (green column). All the boxes under a certain group are coloured in similar shades. For example, the three jobs in the Professional Skills group are in three different shades of blue.
Units,
Qualifications and National Occupational Standards
The Skills Map shows a series of boxes that indicate numbered groups of units. Each unit is a competency; the skills, knowledge and understanding required to perform a certain job role. When you possess a pre-set number of competencies (or units), you have obtained qualification to perform that job at a certain level.
The detailed competency statements are approved by the industry and government and referred to as the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for retail. All retail-specific qualifications are based on these standards. Clicking on the boxes reveals the units required for that job role and level, and the National Occupational Standards that make-up those units.
4. How do I view units, qualifications and NOS related to a job?
Once you have opened the Skills Map, you can quickly view the units and competency statement titles associated with a job profile.
1. From the Store Operations Skills Map, determine which job role and level to view. In this example, we want to view the competency statements associated with Sales Level 2.
2. Click the unit (box) that corresponds to the job profile and level. A pop-up window appears displaying the competency statements associated with the job role and level.
The pop-up window links to detailed descriptions of each unit, the National Occupational Standards and the national qualifications associated with each unit.
5. How do I view the detailed description of a unit?
After clicking a unit box, a pop-up window appears. In the pop-up window, click the unit name you wish to view. This document is in Microsoft Word format (.doc). When you click one of these links, a dialogue box opens asking if you want to open or save the file:
Whichever you choose, you will need to have Microsoft Word (or a similar application) installed on your computer to read the document.
6. How do I view the National Occupational Standards associated with a unit?
After clicking a unit box, a pop-up window appears. In the pop-up window, click the National Occupational Standard you wish to view. Adobe Acrobat Reader will open, and a PDF document will appear with the National Occupational Standards for the competency:
7. How do I view the National Qualifications Associated with a unit?
After clicking a unit box, a pop-up window appears. In the pop-up window, click the “Qualifications” link for the unit you wish to view. This document is in Microsoft Word format (.doc). When you click one of these links, a dialogue box opens asking if you want to open or save the file:
The Job Profiles and a list of all qualifications available at each level can be viewed by clicking the level links on the right or left side of the screen:
The awarding body details are linked from this page.
C. Customise a Skills Map
1. As an employee, how do I customise a Skills Map?
From
the Skillsmart Retail™ main page, click “Sign In.”
Log in
to the secure area with your username and password.
You
will be taken to a page where you can click the job profile to see the map you
wish to customise.
In the new window you will see the Skills Map and Steps 1-3 along the top:
Step 1: Choose the level for your qualification from the dropdown menu. Information pertaining to the required qualifications will appear under the dropdown menu:
This will help guide you through the process of becoming qualified for the job at the level you chose.
Step 2: Click on one of the boxes and, from the pop-up window, select the units you would like to count toward your qualification:
You may click the “Requirements Met?” button to check if you meet the minimum requirements for your desired level that were outlined in Step 1:
Step 3: Click the “Save” button to see your selected units. Click the “Finish” button in the top-right corner of the screen to end your session. You will be returned to the page containing the list of job profiles.
2. How do I download my Customised Skills Map in Microsoft Excel format?
After you have saved a Customised Skills Map (Step 3), click the “Excel download” link in the top-right corner. You will be prompted to save or open the Microsoft Excel (.xls) file:
Whichever option you choose, you will need to have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer to read the spreadsheet.