UK Retailers Hire 38,900 Seasonal Staff for Christmas
Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, and John Lewis Partnership are recruiting thousands of temporary workers to handle the holiday shopping surge across the United Kingdom.
Major UK retailers have launched large-scale recruitment drives to prepare for the Christmas shopping season. Sainsbury's and Argos are hiring 17,500 temporary workers for roles in supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouses, and online fulfilment centres. These positions involve shelf stocking, order picking, and delivery assistance under fixed-term contracts lasting four to 12 weeks. To attract applicants, the company is offering free food during shifts and discounts of 10 to 15 per cent at its stores.
Marks & Spencer is recruiting 11,000 temporary staff members for its Food, Fashion, Home, and Beauty departments. New hires, who begin work on October 25, will earn a starting wage of £13.41 per hour. While most positions are temporary, the company noted that some roles may lead to permanent employment.
Additionally, the John Lewis Partnership is creating 10,400 roles across its Waitrose and John Lewis stores and supply chain operations. These combined efforts reflect a broader industry push to meet increased consumer demand during the festive period.
