- John Lewis Partnership’s Recruitment Drive
- Seasonal Positions Across Waitrose and John Lewis
- Challenges and Turnaround Strategy
The John Lewis Partnership has launched a recruitment campaign to employ over 10,000 individuals before the holiday season.
The largest employee-owned retailer in Britain seeks to fill over 2,800 seasonal positions, including supermarket assistants, night shift workers, and customer delivery couriers, at its 329 Waitrose stores.
In addition, it aims to fill 2,700 temporary positions in its supply chain, such as delivery drivers and warehouse workers, through employment agencies.
In addition, the group seeks to fill over 2,900 temporary sales and merchandising positions across its 34 John Lewis stores and 1,700 full-time positions at both Waitrose and John Lewis in a ‘variety of roles.’
Black Friday and Christmas are traditionally the busiest shopping periods for John Lewis, which has historically engaged in a significant hiring frenzy in the autumn to meet the increased demand.
In 2022, the company sought to hire over 10,000 temporary employees for the holiday season, offering them free food between October and early January due to the rising cost of living.
The Telegraph reports, however, that the complimentary meals will not be provided this year.
Lisa Cherry, executive director of people at JLP, stated, ‘We’re incredibly delighted of how our two brands have become a part of the Christmas excitement, and this is a wonderful opportunity to be at the center of that at such a special time.
“Our customers are at the forefront of everything we do; we want to provide them with inspiring products and the highest level of customer service courtesy of our brilliant partners during the holiday season.”
The retailer has posted three consecutive annual losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, online competition, and inflationary pressures, so the timing of John Lewis’ recruitment campaign is difficult.
The group reported a larger-than-anticipated loss of £234 million for the fiscal year ending 28 January. As costs increased by nearly £180 million and the value of Waitrose stores was drastically reduced.
It was only the second occasion since 1953 that the company was unable to give employees an annual bonus.
The chairman of the partnership, Dame Sharon White, has confronted serious doubts about her future after the retailer’s partnership council voted against her performance in May of last year, despite supporting her mandate.
The following month, she pledged to bring the company to profitability by 2026 and reinstate staff incentives ‘where practicable.
She is spearheading a turnaround strategy that includes relaunching the Partnership credit card, investing in build-to-rent properties, and cutting expenses by £900 million through layoffs and store closures.
JLP wants to build 10,000 rental homes to generate 40% of company income from non-retail sources by the end of the decade.
