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- Tasks: Support the Horticultural team and ensure top-notch customer service.
- Company: Join Squire’s, a family-owned garden centre group dedicated to employee happiness since 1936.
- Benefits: Enjoy 50% restaurant discounts, generous holiday, bonuses, and a pension plan.
- Why this job: Be part of a friendly, energetic environment where your contributions truly matter.
- Qualifications: Retail experience or horticultural qualifications with a passion for customer service required.
- Other info: Flexible hours, learning opportunities, and special perks for milestones like birthdays and children's first school day.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
13 February 2025
Your primary responsibility will be to provide management support to the Horticultural team, with customer service at the forefront of everything you achieve.
Working closely with the Plant Manager to help the Garden Centre succeed.
Rota: Full time, 40 hours a week 09:00 – 18:00, including working alternate weekends
Main duties and responsibilities:
- Maintain good control over stock levels, including accurate ordering and stock clearance where necessary.
- Train and monitor your team to ensure that stock is cared for appropriately.
- Co-operate fully with line management and product managers.
- Take responsibility for the whole department in the absence of the manager.
- Ensure all queries and complaints are handled with courtesy and referred where necessary to the manager and product manager.
- Customer service expectations are exceeded.
- Sales opportunities are generated through interaction with customers.
To be successful in this role, we are looking for people:
- Extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department and/or a horticultural qualification.
- A passion for customer service and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment are essential.
- You will be flexible, enthusiastic, and highly motivated, commercially aware, and have the ability to create dynamic displays.
Squire’s is a family-owned group of 16 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, and Berkshire. Since 1936, the purpose of our business has been the happiness of those who work in it.
We are committed to growing our business and promoting the highest standards in horticulture, catering, and retail.
We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic, customer-focused environment.
Rewards & Benefits:
We want our employees to be known for their friendliness, helpfulness, and good customer service, with their whole ethos being ‘nothing is too much trouble for our customers’. In turn, we will provide an extensive benefit package, please see below.
- Employee Discount: 50% in Restaurants and 20% in Garden Centre on joining, increasing to 25% after 2 years of service and 30% after 5 years of service.
- Holiday (including bank holidays): 5.6 weeks on joining, increasing to 6.2 weeks after 2 years of service and 6.6 weeks after 5 years of service.
- Bonus: We reward our employees with a non-contractual bonus at Christmas, based on the profit of the company in any financial year (first year is dependent on start date).
- Pension: We offer a Defined Contribution Pension Plan to new employees. If you pay into the plan and meet the government criteria, the company will too, and these contributions will be invested.
- Attendance: After one year of service, if you have worked for a full financial year and have 100% attendance, one day holiday (pro-rata) will be added to your holiday grant as a \’Thank you\’.
- Made A Difference Scheme (M.A.D): A reward scheme for team members who make a difference to our business through outstanding customer service, over and above normal duties or initiatives that have grown/inspired the business. There is a monthly winner. All winners select a gift to receive.
- Learning & Development: You can look forward to a wealth of learning opportunities with us that will enhance and develop you with the skills and confidence you need.
- Birthday: After 6 months of service, if your birthday falls on your contracted day to work, you can leave work early (holiday policy rules apply). If you have 2 years of service on your birthday, you will receive a £25 Squires gift voucher (pro-rata for less than 40 hours).
- Cycle2work scheme: After 1 year of service, a government initiative which offers a 25% to 39% saving on new cycling equipment. This cost is deducted out of your pay over 12 or 19 months.
- Child\’s first day at school: After 1 year\’s service, come in late and go home early on your child\’s first day of school life, so that you can be there to take them and pick them up from school on their first day.
- RHS Membership or a Tree/Shrub: After 1 year\’s service, Squire\’s employees can choose either one tree or shrub to plant each year up to the value of £50 retail on the anniversary of your engagement or £50 towards RHS annual membership.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): After 2 years of service, employees are eligible to join an EAP, that gives them access to a range of wellbeing resources, etc.
- Retirement: After 15 years of service, if you are retiring and have over 15 years of service, your contracted hours will be reduced by a fifth but your pay will remain the same for your final 3 months.
- Free Parking: Available to all employees in the designated parking areas on our site.
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Plants - Assistant Plant Area Manager employer: Squires Garden Centres
Contact Detail:
Squires Garden Centres Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Plants - Assistant Plant Area Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the specific plants and products that Squire's offers. Understanding their inventory will not only help you in interviews but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any previous experience in customer service, especially in a retail or horticultural setting. Be ready to share examples of how you've exceeded customer expectations in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your passion for horticulture by discussing any relevant qualifications or experiences. This could include courses, certifications, or even personal projects related to gardening.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss how you would handle stock management and team training. Think of specific strategies you would implement to ensure the department runs smoothly in the absence of the manager.
We think you need these skills to ace Plants - Assistant Plant Area Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to emphasize your extensive knowledge and experience in retail bedding departments or any horticultural qualifications you possess. This will show that you are well-suited for the role.
Showcase Customer Service Skills: Since customer service is a key focus for this position, provide specific examples of how you've excelled in customer interactions in previous roles. Highlight your passion for helping customers and exceeding their expectations.
Demonstrate Team Leadership: Mention any experience you have in training or monitoring team members. This will illustrate your ability to lead and support the horticultural team effectively.
Express Enthusiasm and Flexibility: Convey your enthusiasm for the role and your flexibility in working hours, including weekends. This aligns with the company's values and shows that you are ready to contribute positively to the team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Squires Garden Centres
✨Show Your Passion for Customer Service
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for customer service during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've gone above and beyond to help customers in previous roles, as this aligns with the company's ethos of 'nothing is too much trouble for our customers'.
✨Demonstrate Your Horticultural Knowledge
Since the role requires extensive knowledge of horticulture, be prepared to discuss your experience in retail bedding departments or any relevant qualifications. Highlight any specific plants or gardening techniques you are familiar with to showcase your expertise.
✨Prepare for Team Management Questions
As you'll be training and monitoring a team, expect questions about your leadership style and how you handle team dynamics. Think of examples where you've successfully led a team or resolved conflicts, emphasizing your ability to motivate and inspire others.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Stock Management
The role involves maintaining stock levels and accurate ordering. Be prepared to talk about your experience with inventory management, including any systems or processes you've used to ensure stock is well-managed and organized.
