• Research

Retail is a dynamic industry that’s evolving at pace; over the last decade, this evolution has centred around the increase in online penetration and the data and technology opportunities that this enables.

What’s driving the change?

Our research in 2020, with strategy consultants, OC&C, identified six key themes driving the skills-change agenda. These themes impacting the industry are not new but they are more real and immediate than ever before, especially when combined with the macro forces driving huge change to the retail labour market.

What’s the impact?

The impact of these pressures on organisations is a continuation of the shift from store-based roles into logistics and warehouse roles as well as analytics, tech and insight roles within head offices. However, this is at a slower rate than before given historical build-out of these functions, a slowdown in the growth rate of online penetration, and a more material shift required within existing functions rather than layering additional skills and headcount on top.

What’s the response?

Delivering this change, will not simply be about hiring in expert skills, although identifying key gaps and hiring into those will continue to be an important element for retailers. Even more critical will be the upskilling and development of existing teams to have a broader understanding of ESG and of digital, greater analytics and insight skills and a deeper understanding of commercial implications. This will need to be supported by a shift in the organisational mindset to embrace and embed change and a move to more agile and collaborative working with greater DE&I representation.

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