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

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

• BTEC/Edexcel 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.

Formed in 1983, the British Council for 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. It also operates a Regional Secretariat.

Part 1

January Semester

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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 offer the following face-to-face teaching sessions: Introductory workshops and shopping centre study day/site visit around Week 5 of the 20-week semester Revision day – around Week 17 of the 20-week semester Overnight accommodation is not provided as part of these optional 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 †, and the project, 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 studied during the semester except those marked with † and the project

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

Please click here to apply. If possible, a letter of support from your employer should be submitted with your application.

International applicants

Applications from suitably qualified candidates living or practising overseas are welcomed but attendance is recommended at a number of site visits and face-to-face workshops in Reading and elsewhere in the UK.