Industry Details

Customer Service

Retail, Hair and Beauty, Fashion or Hospitality – an apprenticeship is a great way to get started and open doors. From ones onto the shop floor to those in hair salons and into fashion shows. Even revolving hotel doors. Whatever your interest – train your brain or your hands, and get set for a great future.

Industry Summary

Retail, Hair and Beauty, Fashion or Hospitality – an apprenticeship is a great way to get started and open doors. From ones onto the shop floor to those in hair salons and into fashion shows. Even revolving hotel doors. Whatever your interest – train your brain or your hands, and get set for a great future.

We love retail in the UK. Instore, online – there are 290,000 retail businesses providing jobs to 3 million people. From serving customers on the shop floor to managing retail teams. As well as those working behind the scenes working in things like logistics. While some put their creative flare to good use creating window display greatness.

Sticking with creativity, an apprenticeship in fashion and textiles will help give anyone who wants to get into the fashion industry a great head start. There are also plenty of opportunities to explore style with apprenticeships in beauty, barbering and hairdressing.

The hospitality industry opens many doors, everywhere. From event venues to top hotels. Like retail, there are many paths to choose. Hotel receptionists, housekeepers and silver service waiting staff – everyone has a role to play. There’s also the chance to build your management skills, with a higher apprenticeship in Hospitality Management.

If you’re shopping around for a future in retail, hospitality, fashion or beauty, you’ll be spoilt for choice with apprenticeships opening the door to endless possibilities.

Begin your search. Get started in style.

Career Progression, Discover Your Future

Call and contact centre occupations

Work Description

Workers in this unit group receive and respond to telephone calls from potential clients and existing customers regarding the products and services offered by an organisation.

Qualification

There are no formal academic entry requirements, although many employers expect candidates to possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically provided on-the-job, supplemented by specialist short courses.

Job Tasks

answers incoming telephone calls from existing or prospective customers; interviews caller to establish the nature of any complaint or the requirements of the client; informs existing and potential customers on any immediate action to be taken, and refers the matter to a more senior member of staff if necessary; advises on services available and sells additional products or services; maintains details of calls received, the action taken as a result of a call and updates customer database as required; arranges for field staff to visit the caller if further assistance is required.

Related Jobs

Adviser, centre, call Adviser, centre, contact Adviser, communications Adviser, customer Adviser, lines, personal Adviser, management, customer Adviser, retention, sales Adviser, service, customer Adviser, telephone Agent, centre, call Agent, centre, contact Agent, enquiry Associate, collections Clerk, lines, personal Clerk, order, mail Clerk, telephone Handler, call Operative, centre, call Operative, service, customer Operator, callcentre Operator, centre, call Operator, centre, contact Operator, helpline Operator, line, answer Operator, response, serviceline Operator, response, tele Operator, service, customer Operator, services, customer Telephonist, centre, call

Estimated Pay

Information on weekly pay (average, median and decile) is taken from a combination of two sources: the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE); and the Labour Force Survey (LFS) (both conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)). ASHE is widely regarded as the most reliable source of information on Pay and Hours, however it does not include information on pay by qualification as well as some other characteristics (such as self-employment).

Unemployment Data

The level and rate of UK unemployment for this career path measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) as a percentage, using the International Labour Organisation's definition of unemployment.

Projected Employment Levels

Estimated Hours

Telephonists

Work Description

Telephonists receive and direct callers in commercial, industrial and other establishments, and operate telephone (public) and office (private) switchboards to advise on, and assist with, making telephone calls and to relay incoming, outgoing and internal calls.

Qualification

Academic qualifications may not be required. On-the-job training is provided.

Job Tasks

receives callers and directs them to appropriate person or department; operates switchboard to connect outgoing calls or to relay incoming or internal calls; reports any faults on telephone operating system; gives advice on dialling and other special features available; provides directory information, dialling codes and details of charges; alerts emergency services in cases of fire, crime or accident.

Related Jobs

Attendant, board, switch Attendant, telephone Handler, call Operative, telephone Operator, enquiry, directory Operator, night Operator, switchboard Operator, telephone Operator Telephonist, shorthand Telephonist Telephonist-clerk Telephonist-receptionist Telephonist-secretary Telephonist-typist

Estimated Pay

Unemployment Data

The level and rate of UK unemployment for this career path measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) as a percentage, using the International Labour Organisation's definition of unemployment.

Projected Employment Levels

Estimated Hours

Communication operators

Work Description

Job holders in this unit group operate telecommunications equipment to transmit and receive signals and messages.

Qualification

Academic qualifications may not be required. On-the-job training is provided.

Job Tasks

receives messages, weather reports and other material to transmit; tunes transmitter to required channel or wavelength and relays or receives message to/ from person or vehicle; uses a teleprinter or telex keyboard to transmit messages to other teleprinters or telexes; keeps record of messages sent and received; performs routine tests and maintenance on equipment and reports faults; receives and handles incoming calls for emergency services, transmitting to the appropriate services.

Related Jobs

Announcer Assistant, communications Assistant, control, ambulance Assistant, control, traffic, air Assistant, control Assistant, room, control Assistant, traffic Clerk, control, traffic, air Controller, ambulance Controller, cab Controller, communications Controller, divisional Controller, office, taxi Controller, radio Controller, service, transport, patient Controller, taxi Controller Controller Despatcher, radio Despatcher, room, control Dispatcher, medical, emergency Dispatcher, radio Dispatcher, taxi Dispatcher Handler, call Observer, radar Officer, communications Officer, control, fire Officer, control Officer, control Officer, deployment Officer, duty, emergency Officer, radio, police Officer, radio Officer, radio Officer, radio Officer, room, control Officer, telecommunications Officer, traffic, telecommunications Officer, traffic Operator, bureau Operator, cable Operator, centre, control Operator, communications Operator, control, fire Operator, despatch, aided, computer Operator, homecall Operator, lifeline Operator, radar Operator, radio Operator, room, control Operator, telecommunications Operator, telephone, radio Operator, teleprinter Operator, teletype Operator, telex Operator Overseer, radio Signalman, civilian Signalman, marine Signalman, port TTO Telegraphist

Estimated Pay

Unemployment Data

The level and rate of UK unemployment for this career path measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) as a percentage, using the International Labour Organisation's definition of unemployment.

Projected Employment Levels

Estimated Hours

Market research interviewers

Work Description

Market research interviewers conduct interviews to collect information on the opinions and preferences of consumers, businesses, the electorate and other selected groups.

Qualification

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Market Research (Interviewing) are available at Level 2.

Job Tasks

approaches members of the public, individuals, households and organisations to arrange and conduct face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, focus groups, panel interviews etc.; records progress of interviews by noting answers, completing questionnaires, making audio or visual recordings or inputting responses into a computer; collects questionnaires, diaries, and other research materials left with interviewees and conducts follow-up interviews; collates and reviews information collected and compiles reports to pass back to the organisation/individual commissioning the market research.

Related Jobs

Assistant, research, marketing Canvasser, political Collector, data Enumerator, traffic Interviewer, commercial Interviewer, research, market Interviewer, telephone Interviewer Interviewer Investigator, research, market Representative, telesurveys Researcher, market Researcher, telephone Researcher Researcher Shopper, mystery

Estimated Pay

Unemployment Data

The level and rate of UK unemployment for this career path measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) as a percentage, using the International Labour Organisation's definition of unemployment.

Projected Employment Levels

Estimated Hours

Customer service occupations n.e.c.

Work Description

Job holders in this unit group perform a variety of customer service occupations not elsewhere classified in MINOR GROUP 721: Customer Service Occupations.

Qualification

Job Tasks

receives enquiries from potential and existing clients, discusses requirements, and recommends products or services; discusses pricing processes with clients, agrees payment arrangements and handles customer accounts; makes reservations, books tickets, organises insurance policies on behalf of customers; follows up clients to ensure their satisfaction with a product or service and to gain renewal of customer service agreements; addresses customer complaints and problems; informs customers of special promotions and new product launches.

Related Jobs

Administrator, service, customer Administrator, services, customer Adviser, care, customer Adviser, consumer Adviser, customer Adviser, relations, customer Adviser, service, customer Adviser, service Adviser, services, customer Advocate, customer Agent, reservations Agent, services, customer Ambassador, student Assistant, care, customer Assistant, centre, service Assistant, liaison, customer Assistant, relations, customer Assistant, reservations Assistant, service, customer Assistant, services, customer Associate, care, customer Clerk, consumer Clerk, liaison, customer Clerk, query, sales Clerk, reservations Clerk, service, customer Clerk, services, consumer Clerk, services, customer Consultant, care, customer Consultant, sales, after Consultant, service, customer Controller, consumer Coordinator, care, customer Coordinator, service, customer Executive, relations, customer Executive, relations, guest Executive, services, customer Father Christmas Guide, store Handler, complaint Officer, care, customer Officer, commercial Officer, complaints Officer, liaison, customer Officer, liaison, sales Officer, relations, customer Officer, service, customer Officer, services, customer Representative, relations, customer Representative, service, customer Representative, services, customer Reservationist Specialist, service, customer

Estimated Pay

Unemployment Data

The level and rate of UK unemployment for this career path measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) as a percentage, using the International Labour Organisation's definition of unemployment.

Projected Employment Levels

Estimated Hours

Customer service managers and supervisors

Work Description

Job holders in this unit group plan, organise and co-ordinate resources necessary for receiving and dealing with the responses, complaints or further requirements of purchasers and users of a product or service, and supervise customer service occupations.

Qualification

There are no pre-set entry requirements. Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications and/or relevant experience. Specialist qualifications may be required for work within certain sectors.

Job Tasks

develops and implements policies and procedures to deal effectively with customer requirements and complaints; co-ordinates and controls the work of those within customer services departments; discusses customer responses with other managers with a view to improving the product or service provided; plans and co-ordinates the operations of help and advisory services to provide support for customers and users.

Related Jobs

Adviser, media, social Head of customer quality Head of customer services Leader, team, centre, call Leader, team, services, customer Leader, team Leader, team Manager, aftersales Manager, area, telephone Manager, business Manager, care, customer Manager, centre, call Manager, complaints Manager, desk, help Manager, development, services, customer Manager, helpdesk Manager, hotline, regional Manager, liaison, customer Manager, relations, customer Manager, reservations Manager, sales, after Manager, service, customer Manager, service, passenger Manager, services, customer Manager, services, passenger Manager, support, customer Manager, team, service, customer Manager, team Manager of product support Moderator, chat Moderator, content, online Moderator, content, on-line Moderator, web Moderator, website Moderator Superintendent, radio Superintendent, room, ambulance Superintendent, services, customer Superintendent, telecommunications Superintendent, traffic, telecommunications Supervisor, centre, call Supervisor, chief Supervisor, chief Supervisor, communications Supervisor, field Supervisor, grade, higher Supervisor, liaison, customer Supervisor, room, control Supervisor, service, customer Supervisor, services, customer Supervisor, support, customer Supervisor, switchboard Supervisor Supervisor

Estimated Pay

Unemployment Data

The level and rate of UK unemployment for this career path measured by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) as a percentage, using the International Labour Organisation's definition of unemployment.

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customer service

Customer Service

Industry Summary

If you’re shopping around for a future in retail, hospitality, fashion or beauty, you’ll be spoilt for choice with apprenticeships opening the door to endless possibilities. Begin your search. Get started in style.

Career Progression, Discover Your Future

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Unemployment Data

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Work Description

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Unemployment Data

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Work Description

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Related Jobs

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Unemployment Data

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If you’re shopping around for a future in retail, hospitality, fashion or beauty, you’ll be spoilt for choice with apprenticeships opening the door to endless possibilities.

Begin your search. Get started in style.