The John Lewis Partnership has announced plans to hire 10,400 seasonal workers ahead of the Christmas holiday season.

Over half of the new vacancies will be at Waitrose, with 6,000 roles created for the supermarket’s 320 branches, with a further 2,600 at John Lewis stores and 1,800 across the Partnership’s supply chain and distribution centres.

The Partnership pledged to recruit from all ages and backgrounds, adding that the vacancies could be particularly valuable to young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET). The firm noted that in previous years, almost 75 per cent of seasonal hires have been under 25.

Helen Webb, chief people officer for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “These roles appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds, and we’re excited to welcome great candidates across the board.

“At the same time, we know retail is a vital stepping stone for young people entering the workforce. With youth unemployment remaining a significant challenge, we recognise the role we play in providing meaningful opportunities to learn and grow.”

Pay ranges for the new roles start at £13 around the country, while those in London start at £14.55. The firm said these will rise to £13.25 and £14.80 after 30 days.

100 of the new roles will be allocated for care-experienced young people. In June, the John Lewis Partnership doubled its hiring target for care-experienced young people, pledging to offer 1,000 roles to those in the group by 2030.

The John Lewis Partnership said the new vacancies are the result of a £1 billion investment at Waitrose and £800 million at John Lewis.

On Sunday, the Financial Times reported that John Lewis has embarked on a new turnaround plan titled ‘Rise’ under its chairman Jason Tarry. The paper reported that the plan’s goals include a doubling of customers using its money services and an additional £100 million in profits achieved through a “joined-up” plan for its loyalty schemes.

The turnaround comes after the departure of managing director Peter Ruis in August, following a warning of “really tough” trading conditions by Tarry.

Last week, the John Lewis Partnership announced it would be opening dedicated “wellbeing bays” comprising collagen, creatine, gut health, hydration, protein products in 52 Waitrose shops around the country. The firm said it has seen a 171 per cent rise in searches for collagen on Waitrose.com, as well as a 160 per cent rise for creatine.

It cited Kyra’s Gen Z State of Beauty 2024/2025 report which found that 80 per cent of Gen Z in the UK and US take one to six supplements per day.

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