From Christmas colleague to future Store Manager

I joined M&S as a Christmas temp in my final year at university. I was studying Aeronautical Engineering at Staffordshire and didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do after I graduated. A family member had recommended M&S to me, and I had such fond memories of shopping there with my grandparents as a child, so I decided to apply.

I started out as a Customer Assistant over Christmas and loved it straight away. It was fast, full-on and the days just flew by. What stood out for me was how much strategy and planning went into running a store. You really feel part of something bigger, like what you do every day genuinely contributes to the customer, your team and to the wider business. I didn’t think retail was going to be a long-term career for me, but I quickly clicked with the people and the energy in the store. I had great support from my line manager and built a solid relationship with the team.

Just before Easter I got invited back to take a role in the bakery. From there, things kept moving. One of the Team Managers I worked with told me about the M&S Retail Leaders graduate scheme. She encouraged me to go for it, and my line manager and Deputy Store Manager backed me all the way. The application process was intense but rewarding. I got loads of constructive feedback from the recruitment team and they were really supportive of my progress. It’s a competitive scheme and I’m proud to have made it through.

Since joining, the Retail Leaders graduate programme, I’ve been able to work across high-volume stores like Longbridge and Birmingham Bullring where I’ve really developed my leadership skills as well as smaller, local stores. Working across different store formats has taught me so much, built my confidence and allowed me to demonstrate my leadership skills. I’ve coached new starters, supported temporary colleagues through the Christmas period and even had the opportunity to meet the CEO, Stuart Machin, as part of an Early Careers check-in. That was a real highlight. It showed how invested the business is in our development, right from the top.

There are so many people at M&S who want you to succeed. From my first role as a Christmas Customer Assistant through to the graduate scheme, I’ve had constant support and encouragement. I’ve learned to lead teams, deliver exceptional customer service, and stay calm under pressure. Even when it’s intense, it still feels fun and rewarding, especially when you get to see your colleagues grow and develop.

Looking ahead, my next step will be to become a Store Manager in the next year, running my own shop and fully managing my own team. Longer term, who knows! What I’ve learned is that M&S is full of opportunities and the jobs available are really diverse. If you’re willing to get stuck in, the business will reward your commitment and hard work.

To anyone thinking about applying for a Christmas role, I’d say to just go for it. I thought it would just be a short-term thing for me. Now, two years later, I’m on the graduate scheme and planning for a long-term future with M&S. Even if it’s just a short-term role, you never know what doors it might open.

Register your interest to hear more about when our Christmas vacancies go live here. Learn more about our in-store teams here.