At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape customer experiences by managing impactful research and delivering insights to 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: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a genuine impact from day one in a dynamic retail environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in market research and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
If you’re excited by the idea of shaping how millions of people experience one of the UK’s most iconic brands, this is your chance to be right at the heart of it. 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, 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.
What’s in it for you
- 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.
- Amusing 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.
What you’ll do
Your key accountabilities will include:
- 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.
Who you are
- 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.
Everyone’s welcome
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 when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.
Insight Assistant employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
Marks & Spencer is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and creativity. As part of the award-winning Customer Insight team, you'll have the opportunity to make a significant impact on one of the UK's most iconic brands while enjoying a range of benefits including generous discounts, competitive holiday entitlement, and comprehensive wellbeing support. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, this role provides a unique chance to build a powerful skillset in a dynamic environment, all while being part of a company committed to inclusivity and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Insight Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Marks & Spencer on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Insight Assistant role. Personal connections can give you an edge!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into M&S's recent campaigns and customer insights. Show us that you’re not just interested in the role, but that you understand how your work can impact their brand strategy. Bring your A-game!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Since this role involves turning data into compelling narratives, try explaining complex ideas to friends or family. The clearer you can communicate your insights, the better you'll impress during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the M&S team. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Insight Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about shaping customer experiences at M&S. Share why this opportunity speaks to you and how you can contribute to our mission.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Insight Assistant role. Highlight relevant experience in market research or insight, especially any work with quantitative and qualitative studies. We love seeing how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us your story. Use it to explain how your background and skills make you a perfect fit for the role. Don’t forget to mention specific projects or experiences that demonstrate your ability to turn data into actionable insights!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our team there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know Your Data
As an Insight Assistant, you'll be dealing with both quantitative and qualitative research. Brush up on your data analysis skills and be ready to discuss how you've turned complex data into actionable insights in the past. This will show your potential employer that you can hit the ground running.
✨Craft Your Story
You’ll need to present insights confidently, so practice turning data into compelling narratives. Think about a time when you successfully communicated findings to a team or leadership. Be prepared to share this story during your interview to demonstrate your storytelling ability.
✨Show Your Passion for Customers
Marks & Spencer is all about understanding customer experiences. Be ready to discuss what you think makes a great customer experience and how you would gather insights to improve it. Showing genuine enthusiasm for customer insight will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Be Organised and Proactive
This role requires juggling multiple projects, so highlight your organisational skills. Share examples of how you've managed competing priorities in the past. Being proactive in your approach will also impress the interviewers, as they value initiative in their team.
