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- Tasks: Assist in a charity shop, providing excellent customer service and managing donations.
- Company: Join the National Animal Welfare Trust, a charity dedicated to helping animals find loving homes.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days annual leave, a contributory pension, and access to wellbeing resources.
- Why this job: Make a real difference for animals while gaining valuable retail experience.
- Qualifications: Previous retail experience and a positive, can-do attitude are essential.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for creativity and growth in a supportive environment.
Are you a Shop Assistant looking for a great place to reach your full potential within charity retail? A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join the National Animal Welfare Trust’s team at our new Bedford Shop as a Shop Assistant.
You would be joining our retail team at an exciting time of growth and development, working for a charity that never stops caring for its animals and people. We believe every pet deserves a chance to thrive in a loving home. From our five rescue and rehoming centres across the south of England, we care for homeless and unwanted cats, dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs – helping them find the families they’ve been waiting for. Our five shops raise valuable funds to support our cause.
Location: Bedford
Hours: 7 hours per week, working weekends on a rota basis, with extra hours available
Salary: £12.21 per hour
Closing Date: 10th October 2025
About the role:
In this varied role, you will work closely with the Shop Manager and Assistant Shop Manager to maximise the shops potential, ensuring targets and objectives are successfully met. Full of pre-loved clothing, accessories, gifts and more, you will work collaboratively with volunteers to ensure excellent customer service.
Some of your key responsibilities will include:
- Using your customer service skills to make sure our customers and supporters feel appreciated and can find what they need.
- Processing sales through the till.
- Overseeing the store and the shop volunteers in the Shop Manager\’s and Assistant Shop Managers absence.
- Preparing large quantities of donated items for sale including the lifting, sorting, steaming and pricing of items to achieve optimum income.
- Using your creativity to help maintain attractive shop window displays.
- To identify higher value items to list on eBay.
About you:
You will have a positive, can-do attitude, be honest and reliable. You will be good humoured and have the customer and the charity at the heart of everything you do. You will be commercially aware, driven and hands on to maximise profits, helping us to raise valuable funds.
The successful candidate will have previous retail experience (ideally in a Charity Shop environment). An understanding or an interest in fashion will be highly beneficial. You will have good organisation and communication skills and will be provided with the opportunity to use your creativity. A current UK driving license is essential.
So, if you have retail experience and are the kind of person who enjoys driving sales through great customer service, whilst knowing that the work you do helps animals in need – this may be the job for you!
As part of our commitment to making NAWT a great place to work, we offer access to the following employee benefits:
- 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, rising to 38 days after 5 years’ service (pro-rated for part time staff).
- Contributory pension.
- Group Life Assurance.
- Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
We are an inclusive organisation and are committed to providing equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from the communities we work in. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit.
The full Job Description can be viewed below.
If you feel you have the right skills to be a successful Shop Assistant at our new Bedford Shop, please send your CV with your cover letter outlining how your experience and interest connect to our position to Debbie Page, Retail Area Manager at d.page@nawt.org.uk.
Please note we are accepting applications on a rolling basis and may close the recruitment process for this role prior to the deadline, so early applications are encouraged. Unfortunately, we are only able to make contact with those applicants who will be invited to interview.
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Shop Assistant - Bedford employer: National Animal Welfare Trust
Contact Detail:
National Animal Welfare Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Shop Assistant - Bedford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the charity! Research the National Animal Welfare Trust and its mission. When you understand their values, you can tailor your conversations during interviews to show how your passion aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips about the shop culture and what the hiring managers are really looking for.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to customer service and retail experience. Role-play with a friend to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at the Bedford Shop.
We think you need these skills to ace Shop Assistant - Bedford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause: When writing your application, let us know why you care about animal welfare and how it connects to your experience. A genuine passion for our mission can really make your application stand out!
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight relevant retail experience and skills that match the job description. We want to see how your background fits with what we're looking for in a Shop Assistant.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate applications that are easy to read and get straight to the heart of your qualifications.
Apply Early!: Since we’re accepting applications on a rolling basis, don’t wait until the deadline! Get your application in early through our website to increase your chances of being considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Animal Welfare Trust
✨Know the Charity Inside Out
Before your interview, take some time to research the National Animal Welfare Trust and its mission. Understand their values and how they support animals in need. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you connect your personal values with theirs during the conversation.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Prepare examples from your previous retail experience that highlight your customer service skills. Think about times when you went above and beyond for a customer or resolved a difficult situation. This is crucial for a role where making customers feel appreciated is key.
✨Get Creative with Your Ideas
Since creativity is part of the role, come up with a few ideas for shop window displays or ways to promote higher value items on eBay. Presenting these ideas during your interview can demonstrate your proactive attitude and passion for the role.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Teamwork
As you'll be working closely with the Shop Manager and volunteers, think of examples that showcase your ability to work as part of a team. Highlight any experiences where you collaborated effectively, especially in a retail environment, to ensure smooth operations and excellent service.
