BCSC offers a broad choice of educational resources to support retail property professionals at all levels.

• During the course of this year and next, BCSC - in partnership with a consortium of stakeholders - is looking to develop a suite of qualifications for those servicing the night time economy.
• We are also working very closely with Skillsmart Retail to develop a Retail Skills Academy with the aim of addressing potential skill shortages in the future.
• A BCSC Student Portal strengthens partnerships with higher education institutions by addressing the skills agenda and raising awareness of the retail property sector.
• In partnership with the College of Estate Management (CEM), BCSC now offers industry-focused Continuing Professional Development (CPD) lectures to members: targeted skills development for retail property professionals.

It’s all part of our goal to provide top-end educational resources for our members. Growing these information sources and making sure they meet and anticipate the needs of our complex industry is a key area of interest for me, and one I will be focusing on as BCSC President. Read more in my Estates Gazette article, April 2008.

Martyn Chase President, BCSC Chairman EMEA Retail, DTZ Debenham Tie Leung

BCSC/CEM CPD courses
In furthering industry expertise and knowledge, BCSC is delighted to announce that in partnership with the College of Estate Management (CEM), it will be offering industry-focused Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses to members from September 2008.


BCSC Diploma in Shopping Centre Management
This two-year diploma course provided well-recognised formal qualifications for shopping centre managers. Over 500 shopping centre managers have completed the course successfully, with some 40 new students entering the diploma course each year. An Advisory Board, set up in conjunction with The College of Estate Management, Reading, oversees the course’s progress and development..


BCSC / CEM Shopping Centre Management Conference
Held in the spring of each year in association with The College of Estate Management, this annual conference provides a superb forum for the exchange of ideas and is becoming an increasingly important event for all those engaged in the management of shopping centres.


Customer Care Best Practice
Training Accreditation Scheme
To make customer service a key priority for the shopping centre industry, BCSC has launched an accreditation scheme for training courses in customer care best practice. The training is based on the Customer Care Good Practice Guide that BCSC produced in 2005. If you are interested in becoming accredited or wish to suggest that your present training providers get involved, please visit the website for more information.


National Skills Academy for Retail
The Vision: A one-stop shop for retail skills
A Retail Skills Network giving access to world class skills and business support for retailers whatever their size, wherever they are located. Following a successful bid to the Learning and Skills Council, Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Retail has been given the go-ahead to develop plans for a National Skills Academy (NSA) for the retail sector. Find out more about the NSA for Retail at:/www.skillsmartretail.com/nsa/index.php