At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a passionate team providing excellent service to customers and communities.
- Company: Be part of the UK's largest independent co-operative Society.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, paid volunteering, and personalised learning opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hours and support for all candidates during the recruitment process.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while gaining valuable skills.
- Qualifications: No experience needed, just a friendly attitude and willingness to learn.
The predicted salary is between 27040 - 27100 £ per year.
What will you be doing? If you're interested in being part of a passionate, motivated team dedicated to providing excellent service to our customers, members, and communities, keep reading! We’re looking for enthusiastic people who want to make a difference by helping our communities and customers when they need us most. As part of a multi-skilled team, you will cover different and diverse tasks in a fast-paced and active environment. You’ll support the daily running of the store, working on:
- Checkouts
- The shop floor
- House-keeping
- Date code checking
- Temperature checks
- Administration
- In-store bakery
You'll promote the benefits of membership to customers, helping people to join us and have a say in how we are run. Each day offers new experiences and chances to impact and improve the lives of those around you.
How will I know if I am right for this role? Flexibility in your working hours (including availability on evenings and weekends) is required to accommodate a wide variety of shifts. You'll work alongside the whole in-store team, passionate about delivering exceptional service every day. You don’t need prior experience, you just need to show pride in your appearance and actions, be willing to learn, and have a desire to do your best. A warm and friendly character, you will love talking and listening to our customers, and you’ll actively play a part in the community spirit of the store and become a valued member of the Society. We can assist you with building skills that can help you progress towards your goals. With the training, coaching and guidance offered to you, opportunity to progress is in your hands. Everyone is welcome! 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.
- Wellbeing: 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.
- Financial Wellbeing: 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.
Customer Services Assistant in Wellingborough employer: Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society
At OurCoop, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values community spirit and employee development. With a strong focus on training and personal growth, our colleagues enjoy a supportive work culture enriched by competitive benefits, including generous discounts, paid volunteering time, and comprehensive wellbeing resources. Join us in making a meaningful impact while enjoying a fulfilling career in a vibrant and diverse environment.
Contact Details:
Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Services Assistant in Wellingborough
✨Get Chatty at Local Community Events
Dive into local meetups or community events related to customer support. These gatherings are a goldmine for making connections and learning more about what companies like Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society value in entry-level hires. Just think of it as networking over snacks!
✨Show Off Your People Skills
Create a small digital portfolio showcasing your communication skills. You could include relevant scenarios or customer interactions—real or hypothetical. This isn't just for show; it gives hiring managers at places like Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society a taste of how you handle customer queries.
✨Leverage Internship Platforms
Don't sleep on popular internship platforms that focus on entry-level roles in customer support. Websites like Handshake can link you directly to companies looking for fresh talent. The earlier you start exploring these options, the better your chances at landing something with Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society!
✨Join Customer Support Forums
Participate in online forums and communities specifically for customer support professionals. Places like Help Scout’s community or even subreddits can give you insights into what skills are in demand. Plus, it’s a great way to network and discover hidden job opportunities at companies like Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society.
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Services Assistant in Wellingborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Communication Skills:In customer support, clear and friendly communication is crucial. Make sure your CV highlights any previous experience where you've resolved customer queries or collaborated with a team. We love to see examples where you've turned a challenge into a positive experience!
Tailor Your Cover Letter with Enthusiasm:For an entry-level role like this one, your cover letter shouldn’t just be a summary of your CV. Instead, share why you're excited about customer support, and express your eagerness to help others. Let's see your personality shine through—tell us why you're a great fit for Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Even if you haven't worked in customer support before, include any relatable experiences—like part-time jobs, volunteer work, or internships. Show us how these have equipped you with the soft skills needed to thrive in this role, like problem-solving and patience.
Keep It Simple and Straightforward:Your CV should be easy to read—no fancy fonts or excessive jargon. Use bullet points to break down your responsibilities and achievements and stick to a clean layout. This helps us quickly see your qualifications and gives a professional vibe, even for an entry-level position!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society
✨Brush Up on Your Communication Skills
In customer support, communication is key. Practise explaining complex issues in straightforward language. You might even get role-play scenarios during the interview, so be ready to show off those skills!
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Prowess
Employers love seeing how you handle customer queries. Think of specific instances where you’ve resolved conflicts or helped someone out. Bring these scenarios to the table, as they can help demonstrate your problem-solving capabilities!
✨Familiarise Yourself with Common Tools
Get to grips with popular customer support tools like Zendesk or Freshdesk. Even if you haven’t used them before, being able to talk about them or their features can show you’re proactive about getting up to speed.
✨Express Your Willingness to Learn
As this is an entry-level position, they want to see your eagerness to grow. Highlight your adaptability and enthusiasm for customer support. Share any relevant experiences or coursework that show you’re committed to developing your skills!