At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage research projects and turn data into impactful stories for senior leaders.
- Company: Join the award-winning Customer Insight team at Marks & Spencer.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Exciting career growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experience and brand strategy from day one.
- Qualifications: Experience in market research and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Join the award‑winning Customer Insight team at Marks & Spencer, where you’ll play a hands‑on role in understanding what customers think, feel and want, and help senior leaders act on it. This is a role with real visibility, responsibility, and the opportunity to make a genuine impact from day one, including contributing to work that reaches senior leadership and the CEO. You’ll work on some of our highest‑profile research programmes, including our groundbreaking Fashion Collective customer panel, delivering insight that directly influences creative, marketing, product strategy and customer experience across Fashion, Home & Beauty.
In this role, you’ll build a powerful hybrid skillset across quantitative and qualitative research, storytelling, brand tracking and communications, giving you a strong foundation to grow your career in Insight, Marketing, Brand, Digital or beyond. You’ll also be joining at an exciting time, as we redefine how customers experience M&S, with plenty of opportunity to develop and grow your career in Insight, and potentially also in Marketing and beyond!
To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.
Benefits
- After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third‑party brands for you and a member of your household.
- Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days.
- Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
- A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
- A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
- Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
- Industry‑leading parental, adoption, and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
- Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
- A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you’re passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.
Responsibilities
- Lead the day‑to‑day management of both quantitative and qualitative research from our new Fashion Customer Panel, turning complex data into powerful, actionable stories.
- Be the engine behind our BrandIndex tracking programme with YouGov, delivering reputation insights directly to senior leadership, marketing teams, and agency partners like Mindshare.
- Manage regular reporting from our Voice of the Customer programme, helping us understand how customers feel at every step of their M&S journey.
- Support ad hoc qualitative projects, including customer vox pops, to bring real voices into key business moments.
- Own twice‑yearly Style / Value / Quality perception trackers — read by a very senior audience.
- Present insights confidently to Marketing teams and the wider FH&B organisation.
Qualifications
- Has experience in market research or insight, especially with continuous tracking studies.
- Is comfortable working with quantitative tools and excited to build more qualitative skills.
- Is highly organised, proactive, and thrives when juggling multiple projects.
- Has strong PowerPoint and Excel skills, and the creativity to turn data into compelling narratives.
- Is a confident communicator who enjoys presenting and sharing a point of view.
Diversity & Inclusion
We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating, and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted, and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.
We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.
If you feel you’d benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Insight Assistant in London employer: Marks and Spencer
Marks & Spencer is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly within the Customer Insight team. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to develop a diverse skillset while contributing to impactful projects that reach senior leadership. Enjoy competitive benefits, including generous discounts, flexible working arrangements, and comprehensive wellbeing support, all while being part of a company committed to inclusivity and making a positive change in the retail industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Insight Assistant in London
✨Dive into Marketing Meetups
Get yourself to local marketing meetups and networking events. These are gold mines for entry-level folks like us to meet industry pros and learn what skills are hot right now. Plus, you never know who might be looking for someone like you to hire—make those connections count!
✨Start a Personal Project
Why not kick off a blog or a social media account where you can showcase your marketing skills? Share insights, strategies, or even trends you spot. This not only lets potential employers see what you can do but also helps you build a portfolio that's all your own!
✨Engage in Online Marketing Communities
Join online platforms like LinkedIn Groups or Reddit communities focused on marketing. Engage in conversations, ask questions, and share your thoughts on industry trends. This visibility can lead to recommendations or even job notices that aren’t widely advertised!
✨Keep an Eye on Creative Internships
Look out for internships on company websites, especially those like Marks and Spencer who value fresh perspectives. Many companies offer entry-level roles as a stepping stone, so apply through their careers page and embrace the chance to shine!
We think you need these skills to ace Insight Assistant in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Creativity!:In marketing and communications, creativity is key! Make sure your application showcases your unique style. Whether it’s in your CV or cover letter, use dynamic language and possibly even a personal branding statement that reflects who you are and what you can bring to Marks and Spencer.
Demonstrate Your Writing Skills:Solid writing skills are a must in this field. Include samples of your work along with your application—whether it’s blog posts, social media campaigns you’ve created, or even university projects. This not only highlights your abilities but also gives us an insight into your writing style.
Tailor Your Application:For an entry-level position, we want to see your potential and enthusiasm. Research Marks and Spencer and relate your experiences or coursework to the specific marketing strategies we use. Make it clear why you want to work with us and how you can contribute to our mission.
Don’t Skip the Personal Touch!:In your cover letter, add a few lines about why marketing and communications excite you. Personal anecdotes about experiences you've had or moments that sparked your interest in the field can show us your passion and drive. And remember, we love candidates who take the time to apply through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer
✨Show off your creative flair!
In marketing communications, creativity is key. Make sure to prepare a portfolio showcasing any relevant projects you've worked on, whether that’s social media campaigns, design work, or interesting content you’ve created. Let your personality shine through—it's all about how you can engage an audience!
✨Brush up on your tools and trends
Familiarise yourself with common marketing tools and platforms like Hootsuite, Canva, or Google Analytics. If you know about the latest trends in digital marketing, such as influencers or content marketing strategies, you'll show you're proactive and ready to dive into the role at Marks and Spencer.
✨Demonstrate your passion for the industry
Since this is an entry-level position, don't worry about extensive experience—focus on your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Be prepared to talk about why you're interested in marketing communications and how it fits into your career goals. Showing this passion can really set you apart!
✨Nail that STAR technique
Many interviews in marketing communications may involve behavioural questions. Use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and showcase your problem-solving abilities. Prepare a couple of examples related to teamwork or creative projects to illustrate your points well!
