Sustainable Careers

The impact of the pandemic has changed the priorities and patterns of both customers and the workforce in Ireland. The now established hybrid-model has implications for how, where and when customers engage with retail. At the same time retailers are recognising and responding to the expectations of staff to provide more flexible work patterns. Moreover, as technology increasingly impacts customer behaviour, this fundamental transition in the industry is changing the nature of the skills required and roles available in retail, across a range of areas.
In the research conducted by Retail Ireland, people, skills and careers for the future were highlighted as a key priority by members, particularly given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the recruitment and retention of staff. Retail businesses are keen to promote progressive policies that support employees and ensure skills and training reflect business needs as well as careers for the future.

Priority areas include:

• Investment in employee training and development Retail Ireland will promote the development of upskilling programmes for employees that reflect key growth areas and promote the benefits of high-value initiatives such as retail apprenticeships.
• Support the development of new career pathways Creating the next generation of retail leaders will be key as we look at the changing retail environment. Retail Ireland will work with its members to promote retail as an exciting and rewarding career path, highlighting the diverse and evolving skill set required by modern retail businesses.
• Promote measures that improve staff welfare Retailers recognise the key role they play in the welfare of their employees. Retail Ireland will work with members to identify and implement measures to support employee wellbeing.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to promote people, skills and careers for the future Retail Ireland will work through Retail Ireland Skillnet and its Apprenticeship Programme to support the development of new career pathways. Working with members, Retail Ireland will also identify opportunities to develop the sector’s employee value proposition, including how it can offer flexible careers, promote skills development, improve diversity and inclusion and support staff wellbeing. Sharing HR best practice will be key to this.

In order to promote people, skills and retail careers for the future, Retail Ireland aims to champion and drive campaigns and initiatives that:

• Promote new and diverse types of retail careers
• Encourage greater diversity and inclusion in the sector