Employers across the United Kingdom have begun ramping up recruitment for the busy Christmas season, with over 110,000 temporary positions opening nationwide. Retailers, delivery companies, and hospitality businesses are seeking seasonal staff to manage increased consumer demand during the festive period, offering a range of opportunities across multiple sectors.
Marks & Spencer is leading the hiring drive with 11,000 seasonal roles available, offering pay starting at £13.41 per hour. Positions span store operations and support functions. John Lewis is also recruiting extensively, with 10,400 temporary jobs on offer, including 6,000 in Waitrose supermarkets, 2,600 in John Lewis stores across the country, and 1,800 in distribution centers and supply chains. Helen Webb, chief people officer at John Lewis, emphasized that these roles attract individuals from diverse backgrounds and often serve as entry points for long-term careers.
Pharmacy retailer Boots is seeking 6,000 seasonal workers across its stores, warehouses, and customer service centers, offering flexible part-time positions. Donna Hodgins, director of talent acquisition at Boots, highlighted the potential for these roles to lead to continued employment within the company. Superdrug is recruiting around 1,000 seasonal staff, including sales assistants and distribution workers, with applications accepted online or in stores.
In the technology and electrical retail sector, Currys has opened 1,000 temporary roles, noting that nearly half of last year’s seasonal employees transitioned to permanent positions. Andrew Western, Minister for Employment, underscored the importance of early work experience and welcomed the prospect of seasonal roles leading to lasting careers.
The hospitality industry is also increasing staffing ahead of the holidays. Costa Coffee is hiring 1,600 temporary workers on full and part-time contracts, providing barista training for applicants with no prior experience. A former festive worker at Costa, Rori Rahman, shared that seasonal employment offers valuable skills and networking opportunities.
Postal and delivery services are expanding their workforce to accommodate the holiday rush. Royal Mail plans to hire 22,000 temporary staff, including 12,500 sorting center roles in England, along with positions across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The recruitment also includes 5,000 delivery and collection posts and 2,100 temporary HGV and MGV driver roles. Delivery company Evri is seeking 7,000 self-employed couriers for the season, while DPD aims to fill 1,800 driver and warehouse vacancies nationwide.
Supermarkets are joining the hiring surge to meet increased demand. Tesco is recruiting 28,000 individuals for roles in supermarkets and Extra stores, with shifts available throughout the day. Chief Ela Golab indicated interest in retaining some seasonal workers beyond the holiday period. Sainsbury’s and Argos are collectively advertising 17,500 temporary roles, and Iceland is looking to fill 400 delivery driver and 100 retail assistant positions. Many senior executives in these companies reportedly began their careers as seasonal employees.
With recruitment starting earlier than in previous years, the festive job market offers a broad spectrum of opportunities for individuals seeking temporary work, potential long-term employment, or a chance to gain experience ahead of the holidays. Applications are open through respective employers’ career websites.