Customer Assistant - Visual Merchandiser - Ayr

Team: In Store
Store: Ayr
Location: Ayr, South Ayrshire
Contract type: Permanent
Position type: Full Time
Salary: £12.00 p/h; Closing date: 12th March 2025

How We Hire

Everyone is welcome at M&S. No exceptions. It’s your background, abilities and differences that make you, uniquely you. And when you’re part of M&S, that individuality has the potential to make waves.

About the role

This section tells you all you need to know about the position and its responsibilities, outlining everything we hope to see in a successful candidate.

Summary

Customer Assistant - Visual Merchandiser - Ayr

Contract Start Date: 02/03/25

Working Pattern:
Vacancy 1:
Week 1: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 07.00-15.00
Week 2: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 07.00-15.00

Vacancy 2:
Week 1: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri 07.00-15.00
Week 2: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 07.00-15.00

Due to the nature of the role, we can’t consider applications from anyone under the age of 18. This is to comply with the relevant health and safety legislation.

All the details

Customer Assistant - Visual Merchandiser - Ayr

Contract Start Date: 23/03/25

Working Pattern:
Vacancy 1:
Week 1: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 07.00-15.00
Week 2: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 07.00-15.00

Vacancy 2:
Week 1: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri 07.00-15.00
Week 2: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu & Sat 07.00-15.00

Due to the nature of the role, we can’t consider applications from anyone under the age of 18. This is to comply with the relevant health and safety legislation.

Please Note: If your application is successful, you will be required to attend a mandatory induction of 2 consecutive days at an Induction Hub store. This Induction Hub store may differ from your Base Store, and therefore you may be required to travel. This will be discussed during your interview.

Proposed Induction Dates: Sunday 23rd March and Monday 24th March at Argyle Street

Purpose

To deliver a great shopping experience for their customers, putting customers before task every time
Champion new ways of working within stores through an open mindset and positive attitude
Complete tasks and processes that deliver ‘best in town’ standards
Serve and sell across all channels brilliantly well
Be the voice of our customer to help us continually improve

Key Accountabilities

Dress and style mannequins to agreed standard each launch and throughout the season as required
Deliver seasonal Window implementation
Deliver ‘best in town’ standards through presentation standards, VM Principles, availability and keeping the store clean and tidy
Works alongside C&H colleagues to ensure correct implementation of POS each season
Serve our customers efficiently and brilliantly well – on the shop floor and at service points
Skilled to utilise all digital tools and communication channels to do the job
Share customer and colleague feedback to help us do things better
Share knowledge and experience with colleagues to support others in building skill and confidence
Own their own learning & development and proactively access digital learning solutions
Know the daily sales targets, priorities, promotions & selling opportunities
Have great product knowledge to sell and recommend our products and services
Proactively engage with customers to understand their needs and make recommendations
Understand the store priorities and their part to play
Complete tasks with pace and in line with SOPs
Minimise cost and waste through good process practice
Follow safe and legal working practices

Key Capabilities

Understands how M&S operates, its strategy, future and the role they play
Committed to delivering excellent work fast with great attention to detail
Open to and acts on feedback, asking for this regularly
Sets performance objectives for self in conjunction with line manager and in line with business plans
Takes accountability for planning and managing own work efficiently to ensure objectives are met
Is curious and asks questions to challenge the status quo – ask why the company does things the way it does things
Effective at communicating their intentions to others; ensures communication is clear and simple
In control of their own reactions and considers how to share their perspective to create better reaction for team
Copes well with change and work challenges and recovers quickly from its impact
Builds positive relationships by being a good listener and getting to know people by establishing a connection

Technical Skills/ Experience

Comprehensive Styling skills which can be applied across instore visual elements and windows
Strong knowledge of Visual Merchandising principles
Contributing to store sales and cost control
Work across the store to get things done right first time within timescales
Comprehensive knowledge of customer shopping channels
Good level of product knowledge and services across the store
Up to date knowledge of the commercial operation and brilliant basics
Good level of digital capability and use of digital tools and applications
Understand customer needs and spot selling opportunities
Adapting to change

Key Relationships and Stakeholders

Customers
Colleagues
Store Leadership
BIG

Meet the Team

Our Support

Mentorship

It’s important to us that our new colleagues feel supported in their roles and can learn from each other. That’s why we offer mentorship through our buddy system.

Flexible working

We’re a 24/7 business and our working patterns adapt to our customers’ needs. Worklife is our flexible working policy that gives colleagues the option for part-time working, a 4-day compressed week, or to job share if it’s in the best interests of everyone.

The great joy of my life as a manager is that I can coach people and help them grow. I had some fantastic line managers myself: they believed in me and would sometimes nudge me out of my comfort zone to see what I could achieve. I hope I do the same for my team.

Dino (He / Him) | Manager Read full story

I started with M&S as a Customer Assistant at the age of 19, and ever since then, I’ve continued to progress. Now I’m the Deputy Store Manager for one of our Academy stores, managing over 200 people. What I like the most about my role is learning new things and sharing that knowledge with the team, so they can work to the best of their ability and be high achievers.

Jacynta (She / Her) | Deputy Store Manager Read full story

Benefits

Wellbeing hub

Get access to resources to support your wellbeing, including a free virtual GP service.
Giving back

Support your favourite charities by donating through your pay or even volunteering for them.
Pay

Earn a competitive salary.
Colleague discount

After completing your probation period, you'll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.

Please note only contracts of more than 12 weeks are eligible for this benefit.
Time off

Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days.
Life assurance

Get cover for twice your salary up to age 70 (double with our Pension Plan).
Workplace savings

We’ll help you save through our Pension Savings Plan, Share Buy and Sharesave schemes.
My Choices

Save on everyday costs through discounts and offers and get access to great health benefits.
Cycle to work

Bike/accessory hire with Cycle to Work and save on tax and national insurance.
Smart tech

Buy the latest technology with interest-free financing directly from your salary.

Colleague Networks

We want you to feel supported, no matter what.

The Gender Equality Network

This group is focused on helping to create a workplace where gender-related challenges are addressed. They raise awareness of common barriers faced and offer support. They also challenge the business to act and empower individuals to ensure that everyone has equal access to opportunities.

Menopause Network

Initiating and encouraging open conversations about menopause by offering support and sharing experiences.

The Family & Carers Network

This group represents the different types of families that exist. We act as a support network and sounding board for ideas which help our colleagues as parents or carers. We also run an interactive blog, where you can write your own posts or hear about others' experiences.

Forces Community Network

Supporting colleagues connected to the Armed Forces, aiding their transition to civilian life, and ensuring that they thrive in the workplace.

The Cancer Network

This is a network driven by personal experiences, with the purpose of ensuring that anyone in the M&S family affected by Cancer feels supported and has access to the information they need.

Culture and Heritage Network

Raising awareness of various religions and cultures through events and comms, to educate others and better represent our M&S colleagues and customers.

The LGBTQ+ Network

Open to all members of the LGBTQ+ community and spectrum (and their allies), we promote equality, celebrate inclusivity and diversity, and encourage everyone to be themselves - whatever their sexual or gender identity.

Health and Wellbeing Network

Providing a safe space for colleagues with all types of health conditions or disabilities and supporting with business initiatives to ensure our stores are truly accessible for our customers.

How to Apply

Here’s what to expect at each stage of the application process. This can change depending on the role you’ve applied to. If you need any reasonable adjustments made at any stage, let us know and we can help.

Send us your application

Fill in our short application form and hit submit.

Online assessment

We’ll invite you to take part in an online assessment. This could be before or after your interview.

In-person assessment centre

We’ll invite you to an in-person assessment centre or an interview. This process may differ depending on the role you’ve applied to.

Decision

After we’ve decided, we’ll be in touch. If you’ve been successful, we’ll officially invite you to join the team and let you know the next steps.