Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S and Currys hire for Christmas

Tesco ramps up hiring

Tesco has announced plans to recruit more than 28,000 temporary workers for the Christmas trading period.

Most roles will be based in its Superstores and Extra stores, helping customers on the shop floor and supporting grocery home delivery through order picking. There will also be opportunities across the retailer’s distribution network.

Tesco said flexible shift patterns will be available and highlighted that some seasonal workers could move into permanent jobs after Christmas.

The retailer’s approach reflects a focus on customer service skills, attitude and enthusiasm, with seasonal roles offering a route into longer-term retail careers for some candidates.

Sainsbury’s and Argos recruit

Sainsbury’s and Argos have launched a recruitment campaign for 17,500 temporary workers.

The roles will be based across supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouses, fulfilment centres and delivery operations. Contracts will run from four to twelve weeks during the festive period.

The additional staff will help the businesses meet increased customer demand over Christmas and support operations across stores, ecommerce fulfilment and delivery services.

M&S prepares stores

Marks & Spencer plans to recruit 11,000 seasonal workers to support stores across the UK.

Applications are already open, with successful candidates joining from late October. New starters will receive training and support to help them settle into their roles.

The retailer said teamwork, energy and customer service will be important during one of the busiest periods of the year.

Currys adds seasonal staff

Currys is recruiting around 1,000 seasonal workers across its stores in the UK and Ireland.

The retailer has invested in an onboarding programme that includes a virtual induction before employees start on the shop floor.

Currys also said that almost half of its seasonal recruits from last year secured permanent roles after Christmas. This shows how festive recruitment can provide a pathway into longer-term employment.

Together, these recruitment plans account for more than 57,000 seasonal opportunities across major retail employers. The announcements underline the importance of Christmas trading and the continued demand for customer-facing staff during the busiest weeks of the year.

What this means for hiring. Store staff, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, order pickers and distribution employees are most affected, with thousands of temporary roles being created across major retailers. Customer service skills, teamwork and enthusiasm are being highlighted, and some employers say seasonal workers could move into permanent positions after Christmas.