Staff Development
Unleashing your potential
As a member of staff, you'll be part of a unique organisation. As co-owners in the business we all share the responsibility to make it as successful as we can. This is why our members of staff are as committed to their training and development as we are. It's why they drive their own careers and make it their business to improve themselves.
Yet our members of staff are also individuals, so we recognise that training and development - as well as 'improvement' - means different things to different people. For some, it means being great at their job - whether they're a Selling Assistant, an Occupational Therapist or a Credit Controller. That works for us and we have just the right training they need. For others, it's about 'what's next?' They want to progress from an Assistant Buyer to Buyer, or they want to change from a Department Manager within the business to a Branch Manager. And we can help them with that too.
But our training isn't limited solely to your career. We also offer subsidised leisure training to those that want to sculpt, dance or speak Español, anything that takes their fancy. And we do it because we want all our members of staff, wherever they work, to be the best they can. To unleash the potential in them. Because we know - as do they - that in doing so, we can only get better, grow stronger and become even more successful.
Training & Development
Everyone knows that training and development is important. But to us it's more than that. It's business critical. When we recruit someone into the the business, it means we've seen their potential. And we want to develop that. We actively encourage people to progress, whether that's to move up within their chosen field or even change direction. And by doing so, we help them be the best they can be. Consequently, we're the best we can be. So we all prosper.
Our Head Office teams need to be able to deliver outstanding levels of direction, innovation and support across the entire division. This is why we ensure they get the support they need by providing a wide range of enviable training services, along with management support and mentoring. Be positive. Be proactive. Be visionary. And we'll help you be who you want to be.
Graduate Schemes
We offer six different schemes at the business and these cover almost all elements of our business allowing you to learn specialist skills alongside experiencing how a successful business operates.
If you're excited by a graduate career, with a network of shops stretching from Gateshead to Brent Cross, the business Graduate scheme is for you.
If you'd like to launch your career in an office environment that supports, co-ordinates and develops our extensive retail operation, discover what our Head Office graduate schemes in the business can do for you.
If you want to find out whether a scheme is right for you, please explore the Realistic Job Previews for each or read our graduate blog.
the business Graduate Scheme
How do you like the sound of managing your very own shop? This should be your ultimate ambition if you want to join our branch-based Retail Management Scheme. There are plenty of steps in between here and there that will each test, challenge and reward you. But the progression opportunities are yours for the taking. All you have to do is prove yourself.
So how will we make sure you get there? Well, an intensive six-week induction at one of our branches will give you the inside track on how we operate. You'll then quickly take on the role of Section Manager, honing your team leadership skills and learning how to maximise sales in one of our sections - think Beauty, Men's Fashion or TV and Audio.
As you move through the scheme, your level of responsibility will increase and you'll gain brilliant opportunities to develop your leadership and retailing skills. Show us what you're made of, and you'll have every opportunity to reach senior store management level in just three years.
An exciting graduate retail career doesn't always mean working on the shop floor. After all, who's going to co-ordinate one of the biggest retail operations in the country.
the business Finance Graduate Scheme
Finance influences nearly every area of the business, from managing the performance of the business, to safeguarding the company's assets, to paying suppliers and partners.
Finance is key to our long-term growth strategy: our Finance Graduate scheme aims to nurture finance professionals with the commercial and technical abilities to help us achieve this growth but manage a business twice its current size.
From the start you'll be given live projects on real time business issues. These will help you develop your technical and analytical skills, build your understanding of our business and start your leadership journey in the business. You can be expected to take charge of your work with your individual input impacting your immediate team and providing insight to more senior colleagues from an early stage. During the three-year scheme, there are three placements. You will work across the business in different divisions, different locations (either Sheffield or Brent Cross) and different Finance teams, as well as studying for the CIMA qualification.
There are four distinct Finance teams within the business, with one in each division but with differing roles. the business have Finance teams which provide commercial and operational support as well as reporting. The Group team looks after the business strategic and reporting issues and provides specialist advice. the business Services supports the whole business as the shared service centre. You could be working in any of these teams, based in either Sheffield or Brent Cross.
We want you to understand retail as well as having excellent financial skills, so to give you this all-round knowledge you'll complete three business relevant assignments during your training scheme. See how our Graduates are getting on via the Graduate Blog.
As well as learning from people around the business, we'll support you through your professional accountancy training programme with CIMA. We provide generous study leave and will pay for all first attempt exam-related courses and fees.