BCSC Diploma in
Shopping Centre Management

• The 'must have' qualification in Retail Asset Management
• Further your career
• Improve the management of shopping centres for the benefit of customers, retailers and owners
• Develop business skills and gain a wider understanding of shopping centre management
• Build on personal and practical experience in the workplace
• Benefit from on-site presentations and tours of leading UK shopping centres and a broad range of innovative online learning activities

No prior knowledge in related subject areas is assumed in recognition of the varied backgrounds of participants.

Applications are welcomed from employees of Members of the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) or International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

Award:
BCSC Diploma in Shopping Centre Management

Duration:
2 - 4 years

Application and start dates:
16 December 2013 to start 13 January 2014

12 May 2014 to start 9 June 2014

Fees:
£1,100 per module, x 8 modules

Total programme fees: £8,880

Supplemental fees for international postage may apply

The course has been developed jointly by the BCSC and the College of Estate Management

Formed in 1983, the British Council of Shopping Centres represents the retail property industry. Its primary objective is to encourage improvement in the standards of management, planning and design of British shopping centres. Membership is open to all professional consultants, retailers and contractors involved in the ownership, development or operation of shopping centres. Free student membership of the BCSC is given to all students of this course upon entry.

BCSC organises regular lunchtime lectures, centre visits, seminars and conferences to keep its Members updated on the latest trends and developments in the UK and overseas.

 

At least two years' experience of, or employment within, centre management, or appropriate experience of management in the retail or related industries over the same period, or one of the following:

• 1 A Level pass or local equivalent qualification, including Scottish Highers or Irish Leaving Certificate
• Edexcel BTEC National Certificate or National Diploma
• NVQ Level 3
• Pass in one 6-unit Vocational Certificate of Education at Advanced Level (AVCE)
• Other equivalent qualifications at NQF Level 3
• CEM Diploma in Surveying Practice/Construction Practice
• Relevant professional qualifications

If you are not directly employed in the shopping centre industry, you must demonstrate a commitment to obtaining qualifications in order to progress to centre management.

Part 1

January Semester

Management of Retail Centres

knowledge and understanding of the roles within the organisation including the work of shopping centre managers and shopping centre operations managers; overview of the retail industry; management structures; day-to-day requirements of managing or operating a shopping centre; effective service charge budget management; understanding, planning for and mitigating the risks involved in the daily running of a shopping centre.

Marketing the Shopping Centre †

Principles of marketing including: brand image development and exploitation; new challenges in communications from media expansion; public relations; events; promotions; new research techniques; e-commerce; customer relationship management and permission marketing; customer service.

June Semester

Creating and Refurbishing Retail Space

The five principal stages of the physical development of a shopping centre and its subsequent refurbishment following a period of use, to include planning, design, delivery, operation and refurbishment; knowledge and understanding of the processes through which modern retail space is created and refreshed throughout its lifecycle; relationship between an individual centre and its surrounding area.

Valuation of the Retail Asset

Investment and valuation skills central to shopping centre ownership and management; valuation methods and their application in shopping centre real estate; sources of income including rent, car parking, and commercialisation; outgoings including service charges, business rates and insurance; ways of working more effectively with asset managers to increase the value of a centre; measuring, maintaining and increasing the financial performance of a shopping centre.

Part 2

January Semester

Managing People in Shopping Centres

Introduction to the principal theories relating to how and why people behave in particular ways within organisations; aspects of behaviour including motivation, planning and communication; management of both directly employed and contract staff; general principles of employment law, Health & Safety and security law.

Retailing †

An insight into retailers, retailing methods and thier application in shopping centres; shoppers, retailers and centre owners as customers; shopping centre management of the tenant / landlord / customer relationship that exists with its retailers; leisure elements.

Semester B

Contract and Lease Management †

Common basic English legal problems relating to contracts and leases, including such matters as termination of leases and liabilities.

Project †

Production of a Research-based project in the context of shopping centre management, using appropriate research methodology, providing an opportunity for sustained personal investigation into a focused topic area.

January and June Semesters for both Parts 1 and 2 will include an introductory workshop and a shopping centre study tour.

Overnight accommodation is not provided as part of these sessions.

We recommend that you also attend the annual BCSC/CEM Shopping Centre Management Conference in September

Assessment consists of assignments and/or examinations with the exception of the major project in Part 2, which is totally based on coursework submissions.

Assignments

You will complete and submit one assignment per module for assessment according to the timetable of the course - apart from the Valuation of the Retail Asset module, which is assessed by examination only. Modules marked with † will be assessed by coursework alone.

Exams

Exams will be held at the end of May and in October (Week 20 of each semester) as follows:

• One 2-hour written paper for all modules (except those marked with †)

• In Part 1's June Semester there will be a 1½-hour examination for the Valuation of the Retail Asset module