Retail
This department provides practical training in a wide variety of retail work in a vocational setting, from deliveries, merchandising and display, to money handling and customer service.
The layout and design of the large sales area and different stockrooms have been carefully planned, developed and adapted for accessibility to both formal and experiential learning.
The department also has a Karten Centre for computer-aided training, education and communication that aims to equip users with the latest IT skills suitable for a wide range of retail, industry and commercial environments.
The centre also provides video conferencing facilities.
Retail students spend much of their time learning on the job in Young’s Farm Shop, the flagship of the department, and also have the opportunity to work in sales in the Garden Centre shop and in the coffee bar within the Social Centre. The department also has a farmers’ market group who attend local markets on a weekly basis.
There are opportunities to attend seasonal shows and fairs, including food festivals and green fairs.
There is regular contact with the general public, which helps the students to develop confidence in communication and social skills whilst gaining competence in all areas.
Appropriate qualifications are accessible to all students through structured sessions and the development of customer service experience.
The Retail department has formed links with various companies and businesses outside college, who provide Retail students with external work experience opportunities.
- RSPH Level 1 Certificate in Food Hygiene Awareness
- City & Guilds Level 1 Award QCF in Retail Skills
- City & Guilds Entry Level 3 Award in Introduction to Retail Skills
- NPTC Award in Skills for Working Life at Entry Levels 2 and 3
- Agored Cymru Entry Level units in Retail
- Edexcel Personal Progress Entry 1 Award
Young's Farm Shop
Young's Farm Shop is the main training area for students at Derwen studying Retail. Students are involved in all aspects of running the Farm Shop from serving customers on the till, to stacking shelves and running the newsagent.
Young's Farm Shop is a fitting memorial to the late Barbara Young of Horton House Farm, near Wem, whose generous legacy has contributed towards this retail development.
The Farm Shop specialises in sourcing locally produced products from Oswestry and the surrounding area including Shropshire and Wrexham. Here you can purchase fresh fruit and vegetables (organic where available from our own market garden) along with a variety of quality dairy, bakery, butchery and other grocery products, all under one roof. A significant percentage of the stock has even been sourced from within a 20 mile radius of the college. This will be shown on the specially designed labels that appear on each product showing the food miles travelled to arrive at Derwen College.
Look out for the Green labels showing products grown or produced by students on the College grounds.
Despite this careful selection process we are able to offer competitive prices for all the goods. Visitors to the farm shop cannot be anything but impressed with the store design and layout, which gives that unique setting for displaying the quality products available.
If you enjoy visiting farmers' markets or the numerous food fairs that are now so popular you will enjoy and appreciate a visit to Young's Farm Shop.
