Trainee Manager

Trainee Manager

Application Deadline: 4 October 2025

Department: Retail

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Sunderland

Compensation: £22,163 / year

Overview

Diversity matters. We are building a brand that represents the people of the world. It’s what you do that counts, and we are always looking to expand perspectives and voices to shape our future. We see you, we celebrate you, we want you!

You might know us as the inventors of the bath bomb, but there’s more to this great-smelling, partly employee-owned, family-run company than pioneering cosmetics. We believe our business should put more back into the world than it takes and demonstrate that capitalism can be a force for good. We put our people first and fight cruel practices like animal testing, promote regeneration, and show that it is what’s inside that counts – whether that’s an ingredient in a product, or the minerals in a smartphone.

The role As a Trainee Manager, your main focus will be assisting in delivering exceptional customer service and creating memorable experiences. You will work collaboratively with the store manager to cultivate a team that shares a passion for making every customer interaction a delightful experience. Contributing to a positive environment where each visit goes beyond a transaction is key.

Your role also involves supporting the store manager in building connections within the local community, with other businesses, and charity organizations. Your commitment to outstanding customer service will contribute to the overall growth of the business, and we are here to support you in achieving this goal.

You will play a role in creating and executing \”top box\” goals for the store and your team, ensuring that decisions positively impact these goals. As a trainee manager, you will work with the store manager to assess progress towards these objectives and help shape the team structure for optimal performance. Recruitment and upskilling of team members will be part of your responsibility, aligning roles and staff to meet the store\’s needs.

Our business is driven by people, and we encourage you to enjoy your work, embrace challenges, and see your role as a starting point for building a career. Our flexible, supportive, and authentic working culture values your innovative spirit. We welcome your efforts to push boundaries, explore new approaches, and continually enhance the customer experience, offering our full support along the way.

Please note: We may close this vacancy early if we receive an overwhelming response or our business requirements change.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the store manager to bring exciting ideas to life, making your store successful through creative planning, and building an exemplary in-store team.
• Support the store manager in building a team of customer-focused individuals who are enthusiastic about enhancing the overall shopping experience.
• Assist in nurturing a customer-centric team by participating in training sessions, providing constructive feedback, and observing the store manager\’s leadership.
• Lead a management team to help you achieve the store\’s top-box goals.
• Delegate to your management team in order to meet the needs of the customer and the store.
• Think creatively to achieve success while innovating and collaborating with your team.
• Contribute to managing the store\’s finances by assisting in setting annual budgets, driving sales, and understanding how to control staffing levels and stock to meet customer needs.
• Maintain a beautiful store with effective merchandising, high standards of cleanliness, and strong stock management to enhance the customer experience.
• Develop relationships within your local community to enhance the customer experience when they visit your store.
• Actively engage in personal development by utilizing training opportunities, collaborating with other teams around Lush, and gaining exposure to other stores and aspects of the business.
• Create and facilitate a shopping experience that encourages your team to consistently make their customers\\\’ day.
• With the store manager\’s support, take on your own projects to make positive changes and add your unique touch, helping our store thrive and grow.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Customer Service: A genuine passion for delivering exceptional customer service, leading by example, and ensuring your team is providing 5-star service. Our stores are an oasis of kindness, where we aim to deliver memorable experiences that make our customers\\\’ day.
• Management Skills: Able to navigate difficult conversations, set and manage expectations, and support your management team. A Store Manager must balance the needs of the business, along with ensuring the team\’s morale is maintained and motivated.
• Teamwork: Consistently leading by example on the shop floor, working with your team to achieve top box goals, and maintaining a positive and supportive work environment through team development.
• Communication: Strong verbal communication skills to share business messages throughout the store, as well as working with retailers, your manager, and stores local to you.

Benefits

• Holiday allowance
• 50% discount on Lush products and spa treatments
• Discretionary and profit-based bonus
• Pension scheme
• Day off for weekday birthdays
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted rail and bus season tickets
• Employee assistance programme
• 6 months of full pay for parental leave (primary caregiver must qualify for SMP)*
• Flexible working
• Tailored gender affirming care*

*qualifying period/hours required

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