Free Level 3 Fashion Business and Retail Course in Liverpool – The City of Liverpool College Arts Centre

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryClassroom based
Start8 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyUAL Awarding Body

About this course

Free Level 3 Fashion Business and Retail Course in Liverpool. Classes run at The City of Liverpool College Arts Centre, full-time during the day.

The course gives you a broad grounding in the fashion retail industry. You'll develop practical skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Excel. You'll also work on live briefs with retailers in and around Liverpool. The course runs over one year, with a second year available to specialise further or prepare for higher education.

You'll finish with a Diploma in Fashion Business and Retail, awarded by University of the Arts London.

Who this course is for

This programme is designed to provide you with a broad experience and understanding of the breadth of career opportunities available within the Fashion Retail Industry, and prepare you for employment. You will learn a range of industry skills such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Excel. You will have the opportunity to work on live briefs in and around a range of retailers in Liverpool. Year 2 of the course allows you to specialist in your chosen area and prepare you for Higher Education or industry. This course is only offered at Birmingham, Liverpool and The Fashion Retail Academy in London. 2017 saw a 100% of students progressing into Higher Education, and 100% of this year's cohort are due to progress into either Higher Education or employment within the industry. Year 1 Diploma coverage includes:- • Principles of Fashion, • Retail Communication for Fashion, • Retail Critical and Contextual Awareness, • Fashion Production + Supply Chain Fashion Buying & Merchandising, • Collaborative Fashion Retail Project. Year 2 Extended Diploma coverage includes:- • Specialist Study in Fashion Business and Retail, • Fashion Retail Environments, • Preparing for Progressions, • Fashion Futures and Sustainability, • Extended Project.

Entry requirements

Please vist: https://www.liv-coll.ac.uk/courses/Fashion-Business-Retail-Level-3-Diploma-Extended-Diploma

What you will learn

  • You'll develop digital skills using Photoshop, Illustrator, and Excel.
  • You'll explore career opportunities across the fashion retail industry.
  • You'll work on live briefs with real retailers in Liverpool.
  • You'll study fashion buying, marketing, and visual merchandising principles.
  • You'll learn how fashion businesses plan, promote, and sell products.
  • You'll build knowledge of retail operations and commercial awareness.

How you will learn

You'll learn through classroom sessions at The City of Liverpool College Arts Centre. Practical projects and live retail briefs form a core part of the course. Assessment is through coursework, projects, and portfolio work rather than formal exams. You'll apply your skills in industry-style tasks throughout the year.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. The City of Liverpool College Arts Centre will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Fashion buyer, sources and selects products for retail brands.
  • Visual merchandiser, designs in-store displays to drive sales.
  • Fashion marketing assistant, supports campaigns and brand promotion.
  • Retail assistant, works on the shop floor in fashion retail.
  • Buying assistant, supports the buying team at a fashion retailer.
  • Social media coordinator, manages fashion brand content online.

What you could study next

  • BA (Hons) in Fashion Business or Fashion Marketing, a degree that deepens your specialism and opens senior roles.
  • Higher National Diploma (HND) in Fashion, a two-year higher-level qualification for those not ready for a full degree.
  • Level 4 Diploma in Retail Management, for those focusing on the commercial and operational side of retail.

Related courses at The City of Liverpool College Arts Centre

More courses near you