Starbucks to hire 7,500 baristas in UK growth plan

Starbucks expands across UK

Starbucks plans to hire 7,500 new baristas across the UK over the next five years. The company has moved beyond a period of cutbacks and is now focused on growth again. Most of that expansion will happen outside London and the South East.

The recruitment plan supports Starbucks’ wider goal of opening another 500 UK stores by 2031. The business already employs more than 18,000 people in the UK. Adding 7,500 roles would increase its workforce by around 40% over that period.

Growth beyond London

Most of the new jobs will be in the Midlands, the north of England, Wales and Scotland. These are also the areas where Starbucks plans to open most of its new locations.

The company says it is proud to be creating thousands of jobs in communities across the country as it continues to invest in the UK. The strategy shows a clear focus on expanding beyond the areas where many national brands have traditionally concentrated their growth.

Back to growth

The announcement follows a major turnaround under chief executive Brian Niccol. Last year, Starbucks closed dozens of UK coffee shops as part of efforts to improve the business.

According to the company, it is now firmly back in growth mode. This follows two years of simplifying the menu, investing in employees and changing store operations to improve service.

Starbucks says its Back to Starbucks strategy is designed to make the company a place where people can learn skills, develop careers and feel part of a team. The business also wants to help more young people enter the workforce by making entry-level roles easier to access.

Investing despite higher costs

The expansion is moving ahead even as labour costs continue to rise.

The Government has confirmed that the National Minimum Wage will increase by 3.9% in April next year. This will raise the cost of entry-level jobs such as barista roles across hospitality and retail.

Despite those higher staffing costs, Starbucks is continuing with plans to grow its store estate and workforce across the UK.

What RHR thinks

We believe this is a meaningful sign of confidence in UK high streets and roadside sites outside the capital. Many operators have been holding back because of higher wage and employment costs. Starbucks committing to 500 stores and 7,500 roles over five years suggests that large brands with a clear format still see room to grow. They are betting that better service and simpler operations will pay for higher staffing costs.

We expect more retail and hospitality brands to look north of the M25 for growth, where property costs are lower and many towns are underserved. That will create more competition for frontline and store management staff in those regions. We also believe the focus on young people and accessible entry-level jobs will become more important, as employers that develop their own people will be in a stronger position than those relying only on experienced hires.

What this means for hiring. Baristas, shift managers, assistant managers and store managers are likely to be in demand as Starbucks adds 500 stores and 7,500 roles. Most opportunities are expected to be in the Midlands, the north of England, Wales and Scotland, where the company plans most of its expansion.