How to become a manager or director in retail and wholesale
Official title: Managers and directors in retail and wholesale
Also called: Manager, Director, Area manager, Shop manager, Site manager, Dairy manager, Sales manager, Shift manager, Store manager, Trade manager, Store director, Branch manager
Retail and wholesale managers and directors plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the operations of major retail and wholesale establishments in order to maximise business performance and meet financial goals.
Main tasks
- Appoints staff, assigns tasks and monitors and reviews staff performance
- Liaises with other staff to provide information about merchandise, special promotions etc. to customers
- Ensures that adequate reserves of merchandise are held and that stock keeping is carried out efficiently
- Ensures customer complaints and queries regarding sales and service are appropriately handled
- Oversees the maintenance of financial and other records and controls security arrangements for the premises
- Authorises payment for supplies received and decides on vending price, discount rates and credit terms
- Examines quality of merchandise and ensures that effective use is made of advertising and display facilities
How to become one
Entry requirements vary from company to company. Entrants may possess GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, GNVQs/GSVQs, a BTEC/SQA award, a degree or equivalent qualification. Entry is also possible through promotion after gaining sufficient experience. NVQs/SVQs in Retail Operations are available at level 4.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Retail leadership (integrated degree) (level 6). England. Typically 48 months. Skills England standard ST0547.
- Apprenticeship (England): Retail manager (level 4). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0325.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £38,447 a year The middle half earn £30,000 to £52,498.
- About 307,500 people work in this job now, and about 337,000 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a manager or director in retail and wholesale?
Entry requirements vary from company to company. Entrants may possess GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, GNVQs/GSVQs, a BTEC/SQA award, a degree or equivalent qualification. Entry is also possible through promotion after gaining sufficient experience. NVQs/SVQs in Retail Operations are available at level 4.
How much does a manager or director in retail and wholesale earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £38,447 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £30,000 to £52,498.
Is a manager or director in retail and wholesale a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 307,500 to about 337,000 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a manager or director in retail and wholesale?
Not always. 31% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Retail leadership (integrated degree) (level 6).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03