Retail Sales Assistant - Keyholder Retail Store Roles · Swiss Cottage

4 hour contract

Why The Works?

We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play. You sell the paint that turns someone into an artist. You provide the book that unleashes an inner author. You supply the games that help bring families together. You give someone the puzzle book that reconnects them with a late family member’s memory. You never know who someone will become. So with your passion, and our products, you will help ignite the spark within people, allowing them to unleash their creativity, find new passions, hobbies, or rekindle fond memories. The unseen possibilities are limitless, and it all starts with you.

Our Perks Are 'The Works'

• 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days!
• MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more!
• Family Friendly Leave - Enjoy some time well spent with enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
• Holiday – 28 days including bank holidays, or 33 days including bank holidays for Deputy and Store Managers.
• Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you.
• Stream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens!
• Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works!
• 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with Retail Trust Charity, who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more!
• Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs.
• And loads more! – Long service awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work scheme and optional charity giving.

Become a Retail Sales Assistant

As a Retail Sales Assistant at The Works, you’ll discover that this is not just a job. This is a mission to inspire people to read, learn, create and play! You’ll be the heartbeat of our retail store by greeting customers with a warm smile and helping them leave happy and excited to unlock their imaginations. Your passion and enthusiasm for our brand and products will be contagious and motivating. Our customers will want to return, time and time again for more inspiration and products that satisfy their creative needs.

Some of our colleagues are even BookTok influencers or Instagram creatives, crafting their latest shorts or stories with our in-store products - That’s super cool with us!

Our Culture

The Works is an awesome place to… well, work! Our atmosphere is supportive, friendly, and inclusive. A second home-from-home where you can be your best and authentic you. Our environment is always moving and full of energy, yet we still make space to share must-watch TV recommendations, and our favourite page-turners. Because even superheroes need some downtime to fuel their imaginations! We are one team. You won’t find anyone too proud to roll up their sleeves here, with all hands‑on‑deck to inspire our customers and support each other.

The role can be physically demanding and hard work - you'll need to be physically comfortable managing stairs and heavy stock, but our supportive team of crafty, caring, and can‑do colleagues will be there to lend a helping hand!

Skills / Behaviours That Will Set You Apart

• Genuine and authentic: Your positivity, creativity, and passion for our brand and products shine through. Talking to people is your superpower, and customers can't resist your helpful recommendations!
• Resilient champion: You can handle the fast‑paced retail environment like a boss, juggling busy days, heavy deliveries, and customers with ease. You're the ultimate multitasking hero!
• Stock magician: You tackle the puzzle of sorting, pricing, and merchandising deliveries like a pro! Embrace the boxes; they've got nothing on you!

Keyholder Responsibilities

If you’re over 18, you’ll join as a keyholder. Our Retail Sales Assistants support our Store Management team to keep the stores running like clockwork by opening, closing, and running the store when needed, (holidays, days off, sickness etc), but don’t worry we’ll train you to do this. There are a lot of valuable skills to learn here that will benefit you in the future. You’ll also receive our additional keyholding pay enhancement when holding keys.

Under 18? That’s cool. If you’re under 18, you won't be able to complete keyholding duties just yet, but when you reach your 18th birthday, we’ll get you set up for training so that you can earn the additional keyholding pay enhancement when on keyholder duties.

Our Purpose

To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play 💛💙

Our Values

• We are Crafty 🎨 | Smart with what we’ve got.
• We are Caring 💛 | Heart in every action.
• We are Can-do 🚀| Energy that gets it done.

We Listen. We Care

Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked! You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction.

Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments.

At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under‑represented groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, carers & members of the LGBTQ+ community (including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, non‑binary, or use another term). We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. And, where possible, we'll try to support this. If you need reasonable adjustments for an interview you might attend with us, let us know in your application and we’ll be happy to help!