John Lewis Partnership to create 10,400 Christmas roles

The John Lewis Partnership is to recruit more than 10,400 seasonal roles ahead of the Christmas season, with the majority in the retailer’s John Lewis and Waitrose stores.

Of the roles, 6,000 are within Waitrose’s 320 branches while 2,600 will be across John Lewis’ 36 shops, including at John Lewis Cheadle. A further 1,800 positions will support distribution centres and the supply chain.

The Partnership will recruit from all ages and backgrounds, though the roles prove particularly popular amongst young candidates. Based on previous years’ numbers, around three quarters of the seasonal joiners were under 25. With recent data showing one million young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment, or training (NEET), these positions offer a vital opportunity to gain valuable workplace skills and kickstart a career in retail, helping to address the increasing challenges this cohort faces in finding work.

Helen Webb, Chief People Officer for the John Lewis Partnership, said:

“These roles appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds, and we’re excited to welcome great candidates across the board. At the same time, we know retail is a vital stepping stone for young people entering the workforce. With youth unemployment remaining a significant challenge, we recognise the role we play in providing meaningful opportunities to learn and grow.

“Our seasonal roles are more than just a job for the festive period; for many, they are a catalyst for building confidence and kickstarting a long-term career. By offering thousands of roles to under-25s and guaranteeing interviews for care-experienced young people, we are actively helping to break down barriers to employment and investing in the future of our communities.”

The hiring push follows significant investment – over £1 billion at Waitrose and £800 million at John Lewis – in both shops and in new technology designed to free up Partners’ time to focus on serving customers. As a result of the investment, Waitrose recently won the Grocer 33 Customer Service Award for the sixth consecutive year, and John Lewis was named Which? Retailer of the Year and the number one retailer in the UK Customer Satisfaction Index.

As part of this broader commitment to young people, within the 10,400 roles the Partnership expects to recruit 100 young people who’ve experienced the care system, as part of its Building Happier Future programme. In June, it committed to recruiting a further 1,000 care-experienced young people by 2030. The move more than doubled its previous target, in recognition that the group faces some of the greatest barriers to finding work, through no fault of their own.

To support as many care-experienced young people as possible, it will also offer 300 welcome visits and 250 job-shadowing placements between now and December. Every young person who completes a job-shadowing placement will also be offered a guaranteed interview.