Gen: Curious – Elliot’s story

I’ve always had a passion for retail, and this is now my eighth year working in this industry. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about how retail operates, and I knew a graduate scheme would help me build on that knowledge, particularly in leading colleagues and managing all of the different store operations.

The M&S Retail Graduate Programme stood out as the perfect foundation for my career, surrounded by excellent leaders in a fantastic environment, especially in a company that’s doing so well in a tough economic climate.

The application process was challenging with interviews, assessment centres, and various tasks. It’s a competitive process but ultimately our recruitment team want to ensure that Graduates will succeed in the fast-paced, demanding role in retail. The assessment process helped me gain confidence and believe in my potential to succeed at M&S. I was so happy to be offered the role and I’ve really hit the ground running here.

On this graduate programme, there’s no such thing as a “typical day.” I’ve experienced everything from learning various roles in-store to attending the M&S live Christmas conference, surrounded by hundreds of leaders from across the UK. Networking at such events has been invaluable, and these varied days have massively increased my knowledge of how the business operates.

There are a few key skills that I think you need to succeed on the Retail Leaders Programme. Being adaptable is crucial, as the programme expects you to explore the different parts of the store from Food to Café to Operations. Communication skills are essential for networking and discussing areas for improvement or further learning.

Above all, being curious is vital—we’re here to learn everything we need to succeed as leaders at M&S, and asking questions is key.

The best part of the graduate scheme is the open dialogue with senior leaders, from duty management in-store to divisional managers and even the CEO, Stuart. This makes me feel like a valued member of a massive, well-respected company. The constant learning and personal development can be challenging, but it’s also one of the best aspects. M&S are committed to investing in Graduates and School Leavers as we are the future of the business. Moving around departments and learning different roles forces us to get comfortable with new experiences, which is the best way to understand how M&S operates. Working at M&S has provided me with a supportive environment and countless opportunities, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.

I highly recommend the M&S Retail Leaders Graduate programme to anyone passionate about retail and business. It offers opportunities to immerse yourself in the company, to take accountability from day one and continuously grow. It’s a great foundation to gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in becoming a Store Manager in one of our multi-million pound stores.

To be successful on the M&S graduate programme, you need to be curious, confident, and, most importantly, be yourself.

Learn more about our Early Careers programmes here.