New roles created as the retailer invests in both bricks and clicks
- Over 500 vacancies go live tomorrow in Birmingham, to join team of 150 specialist roles already being recruited
- Recruitment is underway for over 200 new roles in Milton Keynes.
LONDON, 2015-4-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — John Lewis is recruiting for roles to support its Bricks and Clicks strategy with new roles available in both its shops and distribution operations.
Applications for more than 500 roles at John Lewis’s new multi-million pound regional flagship Birmingham shop open tomorrow. This is in addition to the 150 specialist vacancies already being recruited for at the Birmingham shop and 200 new jobs being created at John Lewis’s national distribution centres in Magna Park, Milton Keynes, that will be recruited for over the next twelve months.
In Birmingham, the retailer is on the hunt for new Partners (staff) to fill a variety of positions from sales assistants to stock and catering roles. The successful applicants will join a team of 150 specialist roles across visual merchandising, business protection, admin and maintenance for which recruitment is already underway.
One of the largest John Lewis shops outside of London, it is the business’ first full-line shop to open in four years and represents a £35million investment by John Lewis in the city. Set to open in September, the 250,000 sq ft department store will be the anchor tenant of the new £150million Grand Central retail development.
The recruitment drive forms part of John Lewis’ ongoing commitment to Birmingham. To ensure that the roles created by the shop are accessible to local people, the business has been working alongside the Birmingham Growth Alliance Partnership (BGAP) for two years to develop a pre-employment training package targeted at engaging potential Partners from across the community.
Head of Branch at John Lewis Birmingham, Lisa Williams, said: ‘It’s really exciting to be starting this stage of the recruitment process tomorrow. I can’t wait to find the hundreds of residents from the city and surrounding areas who will be instrumental in John Lewis Birmingham’s development.
‘John Lewis gives Partners fantastic opportunities to progress and move up the career ladder. I joined the Partnership 26 years ago as a part time selling assistant when I was still at school and have been supported every step of the way to management level. We are looking for hardworking, enthusiastic people who are eager to work within a team and importantly, have a passion for retail.’
In Milton Keynes, the recruitment drive for over 200 jobs at John Lewis’s national distribution centres in Magna Park, began last week. Recruitment will be phased over the next twelve months, with a variety of full and part time warehouse assistant roles available. Responsibilities will include receiving and storing products, picking individual branch orders, loading goods onto trailers using mechanical handling equipment such as forklift trucks and ensuring the right products go to the right shops.
Terry Murphy, Director of National Distribution Centres at John Lewis, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to join our distribution teams in Milton Keynes. As customers shopping habits evolve so must our operational business model. Increasing our numbers will enable us to not only react and fulfill omnichannel shopping experiences, but to also provide a better service to our shops and customers.’
Both distribution centres ‘Magna Park 1 & 2’ occupy over 1.3 million sq ft and are adjoined by a 90 metre link bridge. They service all 43 John Lewis shops and a growing online business. Also recently announced was the opening of a third distribution centre in Milton Keynes next year, further supporting the growth of its omnichannel business.
Successful applicants will become a part of John Lewis’s unique Partnership structure, meaning they become Partners and are all co-owners of the business, as well as receiving a host of benefits, including an annual bonus, access to holiday and leisure facilities, education and career development support.
All applicants for roles at John Lewis should log onto: www.jlpjobs.com to apply for available positions.
Notes to editors
John Lewis – John Lewis operates 43 John Lewis shops across the UK (31 department stores, 10 John Lewis at home and shops at St Pancras International and Heathrow Terminal 2) as well as johnlewis.com. It is part of the John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership and all 30,000 John Lewis staff are Partners in the business. John Lewis, ‘Multichannel Retailer of the Year 2014’¹ , ‘Best Overall Retailer’² and ‘Best Retailer 2014’³, typically stocks more than 350,000 separate lines in its department stores across fashion, home and technology. Johnlewis.com stocks over 280,000 products, and is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK. John Lewis Insurance offers a range of comprehensive insurance products – home, car, wedding and event, travel and pet insurance and life cover – delivering the values of expertise, trust and customer service expected from the John Lewis brand.
¹ Oracle Retail Week Awards 2014
² Verdict Consumer Satisfaction Awards 2014
³ Which? Awards 2014.
Enquiries
For further information please contact:
Lauren Scriberras
Senior Communications Officer, Online & Flagships, John Lewis
Telephone: 0207 798 3121
Email: lauren.sciberras@johnlewis.co.uk
Laura Askew
Communications Manager, Online & Flagships, John Lewis
Telephone: 0207 798 3396
Email: laura.askew@johnlewis.co.uk