Retail Graduate Programme

At M&S, retail has an energy. Our customers feel it because our colleagues bring it. And it creates careers that outdo anything you may have imagined.Setting new standards in shopping experiences. Creating food that gives the nation fresh flavours. Standing for sustainability. Making fashion that dials up expectations. That’s what we do here, and more. This is Retail. Turned up.

‍⚪ About this programme

‍Got a real love for retail? Like the idea of making every in-store experience exceptional? We need great leaders to champion our ethos. This programme teaches you how to become one, immersing you in the day-to-day operations of our stores so you can master the art of management and play a vital role from day one.

‍🟡 What you'll be doing

‍You’ll dive straight into the heart of our stores, getting close to customers and colleagues to understand the routines and processes that make our stores exceptional. With your sleeves rolled up, you’ll work across every department, gaining hands-on experience in how each role contributes to the seamless running of our stores. By then, you’ll be full prepared to take on your first Team Manager position.Beyond the shop floor, you’ll gain insight into other vital parts of our business. These experiences will give you the best possible grounding to become a Deputy or Store Manager..

🟢‍ What it takes to succeed

‍It’s not about having a specific degree. It’s about curiosity, a passion for retail and M&S, and the drive to dive into challenges headfirst. This is a non-stop role, so you’ll need to enjoy getting hands-on, be ready to work at pace, and quick to adapt in our fast-moving industry.A ‘give it your all’ mindset is most important. Alongside that, this is what we’re looking for.

• Bold, ambitious leaders who bring people with them to make things happen.
• A team player who’s honest, straightforward, and able to build strong relationships with customers and colleagues.
• A willingness to embrace responsibility and always aim higher to drive success.
• An ability to keep calm under pressure and juggle multiple demands.

You’ll also need the right to work in the UK for the full duration of your programme.

‍🔵 Where it could lead

‍This programme is designed to give you the elevated skills, commercial awareness, and understanding of our business to become a Store Leader with big impact. By the end of your programme, you’ll be a Store Manager. From there, the sky’s the limit. This programme opens doors to bigger challenges, whether that’s managing larger stores, exploring roles in different parts of the business, or even taking your career overseas.

🟣‍ Why M&S retail?

‍We’re one of the UK’s most exciting and iconic retailers. We've built our reputation on quality, value and innovation, creating food, fashion, and shopping experiences that excite people. And it shows, with over 32 million customers and new stores continuing to open across the nation. This doesn’t happen without our in-store teams, helping to bring the M&S magic that make customers think about us when they think about the best. Our five-year vision is to reshape retail for the future and as a future leader of our stores, you will play an important role in this transformation.

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How to apply

Eligibility Criteria

• You must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the programme
• You will have graduated from any degree by the time the programme starts in September 2027

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Application Form

Your first step will be to complete our online application form. You can only apply to one programme per annual recruitment cycle, and we’d encourage you to choose the one that feels like the best fit for you.

We close our vacancies on a rolling basis and closing dates can change. We recommend submitting your application as soon as possible

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Online Assessment

We’ll invite you to take part in a two-stage online assessment, where you can find out more about M&S whilst we find out more about you.

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Assessment Centre

If your online assessment is successful, you’ll be invited to an in-person Assessment Centre. The recruitment process for store-based roles will also include an opportunity to attend your final interview in one of our stores.

You can find out more detailed information about our assessment process on Life@M&S.

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