Retail giants Boots have revealed plans to hire 10,000 workers over the festive period.
Staff will be recruited to positions in warehouses, stores and operations, with more than 6,500 customer assistant roles up for grabs and up to 3,000 vacancies available at the Burton-on-Trent and Beeston distribution centres.
New recruits will be eligible for the company’s benefits package, which includes access to enhanced 45 percent discounts off Boots’ own brand products.
Boots head of recruitment, Donna Hodgkins, said: ‘We’re looking to recruit a diverse range of team members that represent the communities we serve every year. Our roles are perfect opportunities for anyone looking to explore career paths in the retail industry to gain valuable work experience that could potentially lead to a permanent position in future.’
The announcement comes hot on the heels of Tesco’s decision to hire 15,000 temporary members of staff. The company says the recruitment drive is designed to help people struggling with the cost of living earn some extra money in the run up to Christmas.
Tesco people director, Rachel Bushby said: ‘We know times are tough out there at the moment, so this is a good opportunity for anyone looking to boost their income over the festive period or who needs to find a stepping stone back into the world of work.’
The news will come as a welcome boost to an industry struggling with high prices and uncertainty. Over half of all profit warnings in the third quarter of the year emanated from the retail and hospitality sector. The most pressing issue for companies is the rising cost of energy, but decreasing footfall from shoppers with less disposable income has also hit turnover.
The Workers Union Says…
The news that some of retail’s biggest players are looking to attract seasonal staff should deliver some cheer to the sector and provide working people with options this Christmas.
But we cannot ignore the fact that in the normal scheme of things, the people looking for work would be students, retirees and the recently redundant. Alas, these are not normal times. Rising costs have created a squeeze on living standards that is being felt even in seemingly affluent households.
