John Lewis Partnership announces a significant recruitment drive for the holiday season.
- The retail giant aims to hire 12,500 temporary staff across its John Lewis and Waitrose stores.
- This hiring surge marks a 4,100 increase compared to the previous year.
- The roles will prepare the company for peak shopping periods such as Black Friday and Christmas.
- The recruitment process is already in motion, with specific roles designated for both in-store and distribution needs.
John Lewis Partnership is gearing up for an extensive recruitment initiative ahead of the festive season. The retail group plans to bring in 12,500 temporary staff to manage the anticipated surge in customer activity during the busiest shopping period of the year.
This decision represents a substantial increase of 4,100 positions compared to the same period last year, indicating JLP’s confidence in a bustling holiday shopping season. The recruitment spans across John Lewis department stores and Waitrose grocery branches, vital for handling increased consumer demand.
Charlotte Lock, the customer director at JLP, expressed the importance of this recruitment drive, highlighting the value of their staff’s expertise and customer service, which attract shoppers seeking both products and reliable guidance. Lock stated, ‘Whether making sure you’re choosing the right headphones or wanting inspirational food ideas for entertaining, we know customers value the independent, trusted advice they get from our partners and that friendly, personal touch.’
The demand for JLP’s holiday offerings is already evident, with Waitrose noting a 25% increase in its Christmas range and a significant 20% rise in holiday decoration sales at John Lewis. Such figures underscore the need for additional workforce to maintain service standards during peak times.
Recruitment efforts are currently aimed at filling 2,000 positions across 34 John Lewis stores, alongside plans for 7,700 hires within over 300 Waitrose outlets. Moreover, there is an urgent requirement for 2,800 warehouse and driver roles to cater to the growing online shopping segment.
John Lewis’s proactive staffing measures are set to ensure a smooth holiday season operation, capturing both in-store and online market demands.
