At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead your team to deliver exceptional service and engage with the community.
- Company: Join the UK's largest independent co-operative Society, rooted in community values.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, health benefits, paid volunteering, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible job share opportunities available; everyone is welcome here.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Passion for food retail and experience in team engagement.
The predicted salary is between 27040 - 29120 £ per year.
What will you be doing? Being at the heart of your community, you will truly be tuned into the needs of your customers and members, interacting in a warm and friendly manner demonstrating what our Co-operative difference means and bringing our values to life to deliver exceptional service every day. You’ll be excited in bringing the best out in all your colleagues, recognising their unique contributions and strengths. Leading your team by example of your hard work and engaging communication, you will develop, empower and motivate them to achieve amazing things together. Your presence and pride in your store will show through your leadership in the running of the store operation, going above and beyond to improve on performance and standards whilst ensuring the safety and security of your colleagues and customers. Using your judgement, drive and influence, you will engage your wider operational team with your passion for Food Retail and apply your knowledge and awareness into actions which not only support your store, but the success of the wider Society.
How will I know if I am right for this role? Being the right fit for our business means you hold a belief that engagement and empowerment of your team, demonstrated through your growth mindset, is key to motivating people in delivering common goals and aspiring targets. As someone who strives to learn, being naturally curious of change for the better, you will put into practice your knowledge, and be personally accountable for seeking out ways to improve upon the experiences of our customers and communities, relishing the opportunity to talk with them to make sure they remain at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applications from candidates looking for flexible job share opportunities and we can support this through the dynamic operation of our business. Everyone is welcome here. We’re happy to make reasonable adjustments so that all our candidates can show us how they’ll perform their role. There is a section in the application form where you can provide any additional information. Please use this section to include any reasonable adjustments you need, and we’ll do our best to support you through our recruitment process.
What benefits are available to you? In addition to our competitive salaries, our colleagues also benefit from:
- Fantastic colleague discount - Reward ££’s and discounts across our Retail and Funeral businesses.
- Retail discounts - our hub offers colleagues access to hundreds of exclusive retail discounts, savings on days out and holiday discounts.
- Colleague Dividend - We pay a share of our profits to eligible colleagues as a thank you for their contribution to our success.
- Colleague recognition - we celebrate our colleague’s achievements both personally and professionally.
- Personalised learning and development - with easy access to a wide range of training programmes.
- Paid time for volunteering - we encourage our colleagues to spend three days per year taking part in volunteering, fully paid for by us.
- Enhanced family friendly policies - to help you feel fully supported during any significant life events.
- Annual health check kit and virtual GP - Finger prick blood test kit, that is sent to Square Healthcare for your personal healthcare report, and access to a virtual GP 7 days a week 8am to 8pm for you and your family.
- Colleague assistance programme – to support you and your family when you need it the most.
- Healthcare Cashplan - your wellbeing is important, so you’ve got the opportunity to contribute into a voluntary plan that helps pay towards a range of healthcare expenses.
- Company sick pay – We offer company sick pay to colleagues so that you can focus on getting better and returning to work in full health.
- Life Assurance - after an initial qualifying period, you’ll get free life assurance cover, that pays your nominated beneficiary if you die while you’re working for us.
- We’ve got you – our colleague wellbeing campaign, making wellbeing benefits and resources accessible and relevant to the role that you do.
- Give as you earn - helping you support charities which mean something to you.
- iTrent Financial Wellbeing (Wagestream) - offers something for all our colleagues, whether you want to track your finances, save some money, or access up to 50% of your earned pay flexibly in a way that suits you.
- The Money Co-op – Free access to support all aspects of your financial wellbeing, such as savings and loans at competitive rates.
- Salary Sacrifice schemes
- Electric Vehicle scheme – Option to purchase your EV through salary sacrifice.
- Share Incentive Plan (SIP) – option to buy shares within the Society, where they will attract interest and £10 worth of matching shares.
- Cycle to Work scheme – Option to purchase your bicycle and accessories through salary sacrifice.
- Holiday buy – colleagues can buy up to a week extra of annual leave each year.
- Company Pension - you can access a company pension scheme with us as well as access to Pension wellbeing information.
- Nous – smart assistant that can save you money and time on managing your household bills.
To find out more about all of these plus many more reasons to join us, please visit Rewards and benefits - Central Coop.
Who are we? OurCoop is the UK’s largest independent co-operative Society, with more than one million Members and 13,000 colleagues operating in communities nationwide. It was formed by bringing together Central Co-op, The Midcounties Co-operative and Chelmsford Star Co-op to create a stronger, member-owned organisation rooted in shared co-operative values. The Society trades nationally through its family of businesses while remaining deeply rooted in local communities. Its footprint spans Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Bedfordshire in the South and West; the Midlands including Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire; the North including Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire; and the East of England, including Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. OurCoop and its family of businesses are trading names of Central England Co-operative Limited.
Store Manager in Kettering employer: Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society
At OurCoop, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values community engagement and employee empowerment. With a strong focus on personal development, our colleagues enjoy a wealth of benefits including competitive salaries, generous discounts, and opportunities for volunteering, all within a supportive and inclusive work culture. Join us in making a meaningful impact in your local community while advancing your career in a dynamic and rewarding environment.
Contact Details:
Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Store Manager in Kettering
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society!
We think you need these skills to ace Store Manager in Kettering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!