John Lewis Partnership, the owner of the John Lewis and Waitrose brands, has revealed plans to recruit 12,500 temporary roles nationwide as it prepares for the 2024 UK holiday season.
This surge in hiring represents an increase of 4,100 jobs compared to 2023.
The available positions span both the retail brands and the distribution network, supporting peak shopping times such as Black Friday, Christmas and the John Lewis winter sale in January.
Waitrose will soon begin recruiting for 7,700 seasonal roles across its more than 300 shops, with vacancies for supermarket assistants, night shift workers and customer delivery drivers.
Meanwhile, John Lewis stores have already begun filling 2,000 temporary roles, with only a few vacancies left due to high demand.
JLP is also seeking 2,800 individuals for its supply chain through partner recruitment agencies to handle the anticipated rise in online orders from Waitrose.com and JohnLewis.com.
Selected applicants will benefit from competitive pay, comprehensive training, potential development opportunities and flexible work arrangements.
The company has made significant investments in its processes and technology to ensure a robust presence of staff for customers during peak times.
Increased sales of the Waitrose Christmas range are already apparent, with more than 550 seasonal products and a 20% rise in sales at the John Lewis Christmas Shop.
John Lewis Partnership customer director Charlotte Lock said: “Whether making sure you’re choosing the right headphones or wanting inspirational food ideas for entertaining, we know customers value the independent, trusted advice they get from our partners and that friendly, personal touch.
“Our partners have always been at the heart of what sets us apart - we’re thrilled by the interest the roles have already received and that people want to be part of the excitement that surrounds our two brands at Christmas.”
in October 2024, UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s announced plans to recruit 20,000 new colleagues across the UK in preparation for rising seasonal customer demand.
Aldi plans to recruit 3,500 new store colleagues across the UK for the 2024 festive season.
