You could do a college course before looking for a trainee job with a retailer. Courses include:

• Level 2 Certificate in Fashion Retail
• Level 3 Diploma in Retail Skills Visual Merchandising
• Level 4 Diploma in Merchandising for Fashion Retail
• Level 4 Diploma in Visual Merchandising

Some people get into visual merchandising after doing art and design courses like fashion design or textiles.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

You may be able to gain relevant experience and qualifications through a retailer intermediate apprenticeship, or a retail manager or assistant buyer-merchandiser higher apprenticeship.

You could get involved with visual merchandising and use your experience to get onto a specialist course or into trainee roles.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

You could start as a retail worker and take on more responsibility for displays and merchandising as your experience grows.

You may be able to apply directly for jobs if you have retail experience and can show enthusiasm and a flair for display design.

You can do a Certificate in Display and Visual Merchandising through the British Display Society. This is a distance learning course and could help whether you're working in retail or looking for your first job.

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to sell products and services
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You could:

• design product displays and floor plans, or follow plans from head office
• draw designs and plans by hand or on computer
• use space and lighting creatively
• source materials like models, props, signs and equipment
• arrange displays and dress dummies
• teach sales staff how to display goods
• produce brand guidelines so all stores have the same look and feel

You could work at a store.

Your working environment may be physically demanding, hot and cramped.