What: John Lewis is hiring 12,500 additional staff for the Christmas period, marking its largest ever seasonal recruitment effort.

Why it is important: This recruitment drive underscores John Lewis's commitment to enhancing customer experience during its busiest trading period, reflecting increased shopper numbers and the importance of the festive season for retail.

John Lewis has announced its largest seasonal recruitment drive, hiring 12,500 additional staff to support operations during the Christmas period. This includes an extra 4,100 roles compared to last year across Waitrose, John Lewis stores, and its distribution network. The recruitment aims to bolster support during the "golden quarter," which includes Black Friday, Christmas, and the January Winter Sale. Waitrose will hire 7,700 seasonal workers for various roles in over 300 shops, while John Lewis is filling 2,000 temporary positions in its 34 stores. Additionally, 2,800 roles are available in the supply chain. Charlotte Lock, Customer Director at John Lewis Partnership, highlighted the importance of their partners in providing trusted advice and a personal touch to customers. This initiative reflects the retailer's commitment to maintaining high customer service standards amid record shopper numbers.

John Lewis launches largest seasonal recruitment drive