Retail Customer Assistant - Retail & Cafe at Borders General Hospital in Melrose

Royal Voluntary Service has an opportunity available for a Retail Customer Assistant to join our team at Borders General Hospital, RVS Shop, Melrose, United Kingdom, TD6 9BS. You will join us on a part-time, permanent basis, and in return, you will receive a competitive salary of £12.43 per hour (FTE £22,638 per annum).

About the Retail Customer Assistant Role

Royal Voluntary Service hospital cafes, shops and trolleys are part of the fabric of the NHS and a real asset in their own right. Staffed by employees and volunteers, we provide an outstanding range of beverages and healthy food choices. Our customers love the fact that the money they spend with us pays for volunteer action in hospitals and the community. Working alongside a friendly team of employees and volunteers, you will participate in the day-to-day running of our busy retail sites at Borders General Hospital.

In This Role, You Will Be Responsible For:

• Providing friendly, helpful and efficient service at all times
• Welcoming customers, informing them about specials or new products, answering questions and accepting orders and payments
• Operating the till and cashing up
• Maintaining a high level of cleanliness complying with Health and Safety and food hygiene standards and ensuring all areas of the site remain tidy
• Ensuring that all stock and displays are replenished regularly and ordering supplies if required

Hours

16 hours a week, working 3 to 4 shifts over 7 days which will include weekend work as per rota. Rota covers store trading hours between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday, Saturday & Sunday between 9am and 6pm. Our retail sites are open on weekends and bank holidays. There may also be opportunities for paid overtime in busy periods or to cover absence.

What You'll Bring As Our Retail Customer Assistant

Working in a hospital requires a special kind of customer service. Your ability to communicate with a variety of people in a friendly and cheerful way will make a real difference to someone’s day. The key is to adapt your approach to each person to ensure their needs are met.

Job Requirements:

• Previous experience in a retail or cafe environment would be an advantage, but training will be given – just make sure you have a positive attitude and can-do mindset along with a willingness to work and we’ll teach you the rest
• The ability to deliver outstanding customer service
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrates a high level of organisational skills
• Familiarity with email and internet is required
• A flexible approach towards working hours
• Enjoying working within a passionate team of employees and volunteers, as well as working on your own on occasions
• Can demonstrate a proficient level of literacy and numeracy
• Knowledge of EPOS / till systems would be advantageous
• Knowledge and experience of general administrative processes
• A willingness to undertake training and continuing professional development

Job Responsibilities:

• To ensure the effective operation of the retail outlet/s in maintaining outstanding store standards, whilst providing friendly, helpful, and excellent customer service to all customers, maximising a great shopping experience.
• Welcoming customers, informing them about specials or new products, answering questions and accepting orders and payments
• Preparing hot and cold drinks (Café)
• Serving freshly made food such as cake, sandwiches, and pastries (Café)
• Operating the till and undertaking cash reconciliation as required
• To receive incoming deliveries, distribute, maintain, and date rotate stock as appropriate.
• Assist in the accurate completion of regular stock checks
• Engage with volunteers to direct & lead by example to ensure they have a great volunteer experience
• Maintaining a high level of cleanliness complying with Health and Safety and food hygiene standards and ensuring all areas of the site remain tidy
• This role may involve pushing loaded trolleys of stock for long distances

Job Benefits:

• Salary of £12.43 per hour (FTE £22,638 per annum)
• 26 days’ holiday (pro rata) plus paid statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• 2 days Volunteer Leave per year, pro rata
• Ten weeks’ company sick pay following successful completion of probation
• A great pension scheme
• 2 x Salary Death in Service Benefit, subject to qualification
• Enhanced Family Leave schemes
• An employee benefits package that gives access to an exclusive rewards website to get discounts and cashback online
• A 24-hour doctor line, financial support with dental/optical and other therapies
• A free and confidential employee assistance programme with up to six face-to-face counselling sessions included
• Extensive online and on the job training to ensure you will succeed in your role
• Opportunities to discuss flexible working
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The chance to make a positive, lasting impact that changes lives, communities and society

Closing Date

The closing date for this role is 18 February 2026. However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Equal Opportunity

At Royal Voluntary Service our goal is to welcome everyone and build inclusive and diverse teams. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work. To find out more about our commitment to EDI, visit our website.

Join Royal Voluntary Service and together we can change lives, change communities and change society.