550 jobs on offer at John Lewis' Leeds flagship store

John Lewis is seeking applications for 550 jobs at its new '‹flagship store in Leeds.
The new John Lewis  store takes shape in Victoria Gate, Leeds, as striking concrete diamond panels are installed.The new John Lewis  store takes shape in Victoria Gate, Leeds, as striking concrete diamond panels are installed.
The new John Lewis store takes shape in Victoria Gate, Leeds, as striking concrete diamond panels are installed.

The application process will start this Friday and the retailer said it is looking for talented staff to fill full​ ​time and part​ ​time positions within the store, from customer services and shop floor assistants, to specialist roles including carpet fitters, beauty therapists and personal stylists.

John Lewis Leeds will be the retailer’s most service-led shop when it opens this autumn, with more than 30 services available for customers, such as a beauty spa, a foreign exchange and home design service.

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​John Lewis said the breadth of services ​that will be ​available in ​the Leeds reflects ​its ambition to expand the experiences within its shops.

​It said the recruitment drive forms part of its ongoing commitment to Leeds, having signed an employment charter with Hammerson and Leeds City Council, marking a pledge to support Leeds residents to create more than 1,000 new job opportunities collectively.

James Prince, ​h​ead of ​b​ranch at John Lewis Leeds, said: “Having lived in the city for the past four years, it means a lot to me to be able to offer jobs at John Lewis Leeds to local people.

​“​There are some brilliant, talented individuals in the region and I’m looking forward to meeting enthusiastic and dedicated future ​p​artners and hopefully welcoming them to become a part of our team.”

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Hilary Benn, Labour MP for Leeds Central and Shadow Foreign Secretary, said: “This is an exciting development for Leeds and a striking building. It is bringing a large number of jobs to the city centre, and we all look forward to John Lewis opening. I hope that as many people as possible from Leeds will apply for the wide range of jobs available.”

As a part of John Lewis’s unique ​p​artnership structure, successful applicants will become ​p​artners and co-owners of the business, and will receive a host of benefits including an annual bonus, access to holiday and leisure facilities, education and career development support.

This year’s partnership bonus of £145​m was equivalent to five weeks’ pay.​​

John Lewis Leeds will be the third John Lewis to open in Yorkshire. Representing a £37m investment in Leeds, the 255,000 sq ft site will anchor the Victoria Gate development in Leeds’ Victoria estate. The shop will feature more than 350,000 products across fashion, home and technology.

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Applicants for roles at John Lewis Leeds can log onto: www.jlpjobs.com to apply for available positions, which go live on May​ 13​.

​​Work started in April 2014 on the new £150m Victoria Gate retail development, which is due to open in late 2016.

The development will house one of the largest John Lewis stores outside of London.

The detailed designs also include a casino, a multi-storey car park for up to 800 cars, Victoria Gate arcade with 30 stores, restaurants, cafes and leisure space.

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The first phase will also deliver up to 1,000 retail and hospitality jobs and up to 1,000 construction employment opportunities on site during the construction phases of the scheme. Project developer, Hammerson, is working with construction contractor Sir Robert McAlpine and key partner Leeds City Council to deliver the scheme.​

​John Lewis said ​its Leeds store will be looking for local suppliers to boost its fashion ranges.

John Lewis’s managing director Andy Street said: “We are looking forward to opening a flagship store in Leeds, the retail capital of the North.

“The store will have new fashion concepts and we’ll be introducing unknown fashion brands. We will also be looking for local fashion suppliers.

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“We’ll be bringing brands to Leeds that aren’t there already.”

Victoria Gate will be one of the John Lewis Partnership’s biggest stores outside of London.

The scheme is being billed as the latest piece in the jigsaw of the complete regeneration of Leeds city centre.