An insider look at Revo’s Diploma in Retail and Leisure Place Management
The retail and leisure industry is going through an unprecedented structural change. Retail is no longer retail – it is a blurring of lines between retail, leisure, food and beverage, daytime and night economy, and online, as the consumer searches for the ultimate all-round retail experience.
In these changing times there has possibly never been a more important moment to train professionals on the developing trends in retail and leisure place management. Towns, cities and shopping places are adapting, and the new dynamics requires owners and influencers to recognise the new challenges facing their ‘on the ground’ management teams.
In response to this, the community for shopping places, Revo, has developed a ‘Diploma in Retail and Leisure Place Management’ through its Educational Trust (Revo ET) in collaboration with Solent University. In keeping up with this industry change and the need for upskilling, the partnership collectively assembled a bespoke 15 months, part-time online Diploma (Level 4, 120 credits) to fit around busy work and home commitments. The virtual course is now established, with 21 students having passed last year and 19 students currently studying.
Harjinder Singh Virdee, course leader for the Revo Diploma, says the first students who embarked on the retail and leisure place management course in April 2019 have passed with flying colours: “Despite the lockdowns and the disruptions students embraced the new online learning environment with ease. This was also seen in how students were able to adapt to new ways of working to ensure business continuity.”
Pablo Pimienta, senior asset manager at Cadogan and chairman of Revo Hub, and Revo ET Trustree, says of the course: “The competencies required for a successful centre manager have turned the traditional role into a commercial manager who needs to interpret and evolve data into strategy, build customer relationships and much more, this course aims to support the development of these skills.”
Course breakdown
The diploma has been created specifically for the retail and property industry. The entry level qualification has been developed in conjunction with industry experts to provide retail place managers with the practical skillset and knowledge to manage and operate the retail and leisure assets that sit at the heart of communities. The traditional centre manager has turned into a commercial business manager who needs to present, interpret financial data into strategy, facilitate the wider community partnerships, and much more.
The course is taught by academics who have both an understanding and appreciation of the Retail and Leisure place management from a theoretical standpoint. They are supported by the Revo Educational Trust, as well as leaders from the retail real estate industry and high street brands, who offer practical insights into the changing nature of retail and leisure place management industry.
Through a blended learning approach – face-to-face or online, and presentations or course work – the programme is designed to put knowledge and confidence building at the heart of learning experience.
The course starts with an introductory bootcamp. This is a compulsory introduction to the course which runs over a full weekend. The bootcamp consists of an induction to the course, an introduction to academic and personal development and a sets out the ‘golden rules of place management’ with a five credit unit: Introduction to Retail and Leisure Place Management. This is followed by a module on the principles of retail and leisure management.
There are also modules covering: management, operations and health and safety; the fundamentals of property law and data governance; principles of marketing; a module on financial management and reporting; and finally a ‘Future Leaders’ project, which brings together all the learning from the course.
Personal and academic development is crucial, as well as the acquisition of skills. Course Leader Virdee explains: “Students are supported in developing confidence and start on the road of becoming an independent learner. It encourages teamwork as a skill, which is highly valued by employers. Being able to manage one’s own resources in individual work is also essential. Personal development is an important part of the curriculum, and the course aims to produce graduates who are confident, competent and capable independent retail place managers.”
Student Andrew Marmot, centre manager at Parkway Shopping in Newbury at JLL, says the course is for: “Anyone who wants to be a centre manager and centre managers who wish to improve their skill set beyond the standard assumed shopping centre knowledge,” calling the diploma ‘the key to unlocking that potential’.
Spanish students Beatriz Muro and Maria Pascual who have undertaken the diploma say they would not have any doubt in recommending friends or colleagues to enrol in the course for 2022. And Andrew Godfrey, who was awarded an Outstanding Performance Award at the 2021 class graduation, says: “Academia being at best, alien, and at worst the complete unknown to lots of us, your hard work and support in helping a load of old property managers deliver some credible academic work to this standard was crucial to many of us. I thoroughly enjoyed the process.”
“The course has challenged students to see the Retail and Leisure place industry differently and to imagine what the future looks like and how what they are doing now can help create a prosperous future,” adds Virdee. “The course allows students to enhance skills and knowledge thereby allowing them to manage change proactively and from a standpoint of confidence, by being able to see change as an opportunity rather than a threat.”
This was first published in Retail Destination Fortnightly. Click here to subscribe.
