At a Glance
- Tasks: Deliver quality groceries and provide exceptional customer service while driving modern vehicles.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business, Waitrose & Partners.
- Benefits: Earn £14.31 per hour with flexible part-time shifts and a night premium.
- Other info: Enjoy a supportive environment that values diversity and encourages personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by connecting with customers and delivering trust and care.
- Qualifications: Must be 18+, hold a valid UK driving licence, and have great people skills.
The predicted salary is between 14 - 15 £ per hour.
As one of our Customer Delivery Drivers, you’ll be bringing the unique blend of quality Waitrose produce and Partner-led service right to our customers’ doors. Actively playing out our ethos - passionate Partners serving food lovers. That is exactly what makes this role so dynamic—it is a highly active, physical, customer-facing role where you are directly interacting with people and keeping things moving. When you're not out on the road, you'll be back at the shop completing daily tasks like stock replenishment and housekeeping, contributing to the efficient and productive running of the shop in a friendly and welcoming team.
As one of our Customer Delivery Drivers, you will be driving well equipped, modern and well serviced vehicles at all times and safety is always one of our top priorities. At Waitrose every delivery matters - we are not simply delivering groceries, we are delivering trust, care and exceptional service. We're an inclusive business - for our Partners and for our customers, reflecting and connecting with the diverse communities that we serve. We want people from all walks of life to feel valued for their individuality, thrive in our business and share a sense of belonging.
In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £3.75 per hour.
What makes a great Waitrose driver?
- You enjoy helping people
- You remain calm under pressure
- You are a problem solver
- You take ownership
- You are dependable
- You are professional and well-presented
- You understand that excellent customer service matters
Our customers tell us they want:
- A friendly approach
- Someone they can trust
- A driver who is there to help
- A professional and tidy appearance
- Someone who genuinely cares
Key Responsibilities
- Be a friendly face for the Waitrose brand while you're on the road—great customer service is your number one goal!
- Chat with customers about any changes to their order (like substitutions or short-dated items), and if they're not happy, quickly sort out a refund for them.
- Handle all products and deliveries with real care, treating them like they're your own.
- Make it clear to customers that they definitely won't be charged extra if they receive a substituted item.
- Help customers with their groceries and build a strong, trusting relationship with them.
- Familiarise yourself with your delivery route for the day.
- Give your van a full safety check to make sure it's totally road-ready and compliant with all the safety rules.
- Help the wider CFC team with general warehouse tasks when you’re off the road.
Essential skills/experience you'll need
- Be 18 or older—that’s a must for this kind of work.
- Have a full, valid UK manual car driving license (B-Category) with no more than 6 penalty points.
- Bring awesome people skills and a friendly approach to customer service.
- Be ready for some physical work, which involves things like lifting crates, walking up stairs, and moving large cages, approximately no heavier than 18kg.
Desirable skills/experience you may have
- If you’ve driven for work before, or know a bit about refrigerated vans, that’s a plus! Either way, we’ll give you all the training you need to do a great job every single day.
Closing Date: November 15, 2026
Pay: £14.31 Hourly
Contract Type: Temporary
Hours of Work: Part time vacancy (15 hours) working two shifts a week. Shift times are either 06:00-14:00 or 14:00-22:00.
Job Level: Partnership Level 10
Where You'll Be Working: Portishead (Waitrose & Partners), Harbour Road, Portishead, Somerset, BS20 7DE
It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.
We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants. We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
Customer Delivery Driver, Supermarket Assistant in Portishead employer: John Lewis plc
John Lewis Waitrose & Partners is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that values teamwork and customer service. With flexible part-time hours and a night premium for late shifts, employees enjoy a balanced work-life experience while contributing to a community-focused environment in Locks Heath. Opportunities for personal growth and development are encouraged, making it a rewarding place to build a career in retail and delivery.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Delivery Driver, Supermarket Assistant in Portishead
✨Get Your Hands Dirty
In transportation and logistics, hands-on experience is golden. If you're looking for a temporary position, don't just sit back; consider volunteering at local logistics companies or joining community transport initiatives. It’s a great way to gain industry insight and showcase your commitment!
✨Tap into Seasonal Hiring
Temporary roles in logistics often peak during busy seasons, like holidays or sales events. Keep an eye out for those hiring windows and brush up on your local networks. Joining industry groups on social media or attending local job fairs can be your golden ticket to snagging a role!
✨Show You’re Flexibly Awesome
Temporary roles often require quick adaptability, so make sure you highlight your flexibility and problem-solving skills in every discussion. When chatting with recruiters or at interviews, be ready to give examples of how you’ve quickly adjusted in past roles—this will help you stand out among other candidates.
✨Hit Us Up Directly!
Don't forget to apply through our website directly to see the freshest temporary opportunities available at John Lewis plc! It’s always a good idea to follow up after submitting your application, just to show you’re keen on joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Delivery Driver, Supermarket Assistant in Portishead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in transportation and logistics, it’s crucial to emphasise any previous experience in this field. Whether you've worked as a warehouse operative or in a delivery role, make sure you showcase those skills and experiences that will help you hit the ground running right away!
Focus on Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, your availability and flexibility are key. In your cover letter, be clear about when you can start and any scheduling flexibility you might have. Employers love candidates who can jump in without a hitch, so show off that readiness!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any certificates related to logistics, like forklift licenses or health and safety training, don’t leave them out! These certifications can give you an edge, showing that you’re not just capable but also qualified for the job. Mention these in your CV to catch the hiring manager’s eye!
Tailor Your CV to Logistics Jargon:When crafting your CV, use industry-specific terms and jargon that reflect your understanding of transportation and logistics. Whether it’s ‘supply chain management’ or ‘route optimisation’, sprinkle these phrases throughout your CV and cover letter. This shows that you’re not just applying at random, but that you know the industry well!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis plc
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
In the transportation and logistics field, demonstrating your knack for problem-solving can really set you apart. Be ready to talk about specific challenges you’ve faced in past roles or during your studies, especially those involving route planning or supply chain issues, and how you tackled them.
✨Get Familiar with Key Tools
This role will likely involve using industry-specific tools like SAP or Microsoft Excel for logistics management. Brush up on these tools before your interview and be ready to discuss how you've used them in the past – or how you'd approach using them if you're not familiar yet!
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this position is temporary, companies are keen on finding someone who can hit the ground running. Share examples from previous roles or projects where you quickly adapted to new processes or worked under tight deadlines to show that you can thrive in a dynamic environment.
✨Understand Key Regulations
In the transportation and logistics sector, regulations play a huge role. Familiarising yourself with relevant laws and compliance standards can give you an edge. If you can drop in some specifics about how these impact logistics operations, it’ll show you're serious about the industry and that you can handle the responsibilities of the role with confidence.
