Sainsbury’s is currently hiring thousands of temporary staff to help it “deliver an exceptional Christmas for customers” this year.
With the festive season now practically within our sights, and most British supermarkets having already unveiled their Christmas food and drink ranges for 2023, Sainsbury’s is gearing up for what is always one of the busiest times for the retail industry by launching a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drive.
The supermarket says its stores and warehouses have already started to prepare themselves for the festive season, and is looking for an army of temporary workers to join teams across the country to help along the way.
22,000 temporary Christmas will be hired in total, with 2,000 of those being at Argos outlets housed within selected Sainsbury’s stores.
Sainsbury’s is hiring! 22,000 temporary seasonal roles are now available across the nation, to help deliver an exceptional Christmas for our customers 🎄Read more here: https://t.co/RpS6iaC46xpic.twitter.com/DdFLZa1vCc
Sainsbury’s is calling on temporary colleagues “even earlier than usual this year”, and some have aleady started in their new roles in a bid to make sure there’s enough hands on deck ready to help and serve shoppers in the run up to the big day itself.
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With a wide range of roles available, the tens of thousands of temporary staff across the UK – including here in Greater Manchester – will be tasked with serving customers, restocking shelves, and fulfilling online orders by picking, packing, and delivering.
Then, in the supermarket’s depots and fulfilment centres, colleagues will work in warehouses to ensure products reach homes and stores nationwide ready for customers to enjoy.
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Sainsbury’s is currently hiring 22,000 temporary Christmas staff across the UK / Credit: Sainsbury’s
All temporary staff will be employed on fixed-term contracts that range from three to 12 weeks.
The roles also come with a number of staff perks too, as in a bid to “further support and reward colleagues with festive season expenses”, Sainsbury’s has made the decision to bump its 10% colleague discount offer up to 15% every Friday and Saturday, with an additional 15% off at Argos every payday Friday.
Temporary Christmas staff will now also receive a second discount card for a family member or friend at the same address, and free food during their shifts too.
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Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for Sainsbury’s / Credit: Hazel Nicholson (via Flickr)
“With Christmas just around the corner, we’re gearing up to serve our customers brilliantly this festive season,” commented Sainsbury’s Chief People Officer, Prerana Issar, as the supermarket launched the seasonal recruitment drive.
“This is the busiest time in the retail calendar, and we’re looking for people with a passion for good food who can thrive in a fast-paced environment and are committed to providing brilliant customer service.
“This is a perfect opportunity to kickstart a career with Sainsbury’s, and we can’t wait to welcome new and returning faces this Christmas.”
Fancy it then? If you’re keen to join the Sainsbury’s or Argos teams across the UK this Christmas, then head on over to the Sainsbury’s recruitment website here to apply, or pop into your nearby store for more information.
Featured Image – Sainsbury’s
Business
2024 Manchester Marathon raises £29 million for local economy and over £3.7m for charity
Danny Jones
Just under a fortnight on from the 2024 Manchester Marathon and the numbers are finally, with the annual race generating nearly £30 million for the local economy and raising over £3.7m for charity.
This year’s Adidas Manchester Marathon saw record numbers of runners and spectators as over 30,000 took part in the popular race, up by roughly 6,000 from 2023, and more than 125k turned up to line the streets of Greater Manchester.
As a result, these huge crowds spent upwards of £29.2 million at business around the city centre and around the 10 boroughs last weekend, serving as one of the most significant contributions to the local economy on the annual calendar.
Not only was this an approximately £8m increase on last year’s tally but, most importantly, a sizeable chunk of that went straight into both regional and national charities.
The 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon was a spectacular day for the city and its economy.
Beyond the boost to local vendors, the hospitality sector and retail businesses, over £3.7 million were allocated to charities such as Alzheimer’s Charity, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and The Christie.
Over £32,000 was also raised for the Trafford Active Fund, with £1 from every paid entry to the Adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half donated directly to the initiative that benefits local sports clubs and organisations through Trafford Council.
Better still, with City of Trees selected as the chosen ‘Green Runner’ charity, the eco-friendly drive saw roughly 7% of participants opt out of receiving either a finisher t-shirt, medal or both.
The money saved in production goes towards maintaining woodlands and wildlife across Greater Manchester.
Together you have raised over £3.7 million for charitable causes, adding even more meaning to those 26.2 miles 💕 Well done and thank you to all those who fundraised and donated! 🌟Tag us in those charity top pictures from last weekend 😍😍#ManchesterMarathonpic.twitter.com/5gsi6NtFzB
This year’s Manchester Marathon also helped produce some of the highest number of passengers on public transport in the city’s history, with a over 175,000 journeys made on Metrolink alone – the highest number of journeys ever recorded on a single day.
This was a 20% increaseon 2023’s race day (145k), spotlighting how the event continues to be more environmentally conscious as years go by.
With the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon confirmed to be taking place on Sunday, 27 April next year – and over 12,000 places already sold – the city can already look forward to reaping the economic and social benefits of hosting one of Europe’s largest, flattest, friendliest and most-loved marathons.
Featured Images — Adidas Manchester Marathon/The Manc Group
Business
Co-op Live boss resigns just days before venue’s official opening
Daisy Jackson
The boss of Co-op Live, Manchester’s enormous, ground-breaking new arena, has resigned from his position just days before the venue is set to open.
The enormous music-first arena has been taking shape beside the Etihad Stadium for several years, and was due to welcome its first official audiences this week, but has been hit with last-minute challenges.
And now Co-op Live‘s boss Gary Roden has quit the mammoth project, with the news of his resignation announced late Thursday evening.
Oak View Group, which Co-op Live is part of, said in a statement that they would like to ‘thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans’.
Stepping into his shoes as interim general manager will be Rebecca Kane Burton, who previously ran the U.K.’s highest-grossing venue, London’s The O2 arena.
Gary has previously come under fire for saying that some grassroots music venues ‘poorly run’ – a statement that OVG has now distanced itself from.
A separate statement said that ‘neither Co-op Live nor Oak View Group share the sentiment expressed by former Co-op Live General Manager Gary Roden regarding the grassroots industry’.
It continued: “As OVG Chairman and CEO Tim Leiweke has repeatedly stated, Co-op Live remains committed to grassroots music in Manchester and beyond, including teaming up with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on the Artist of the Month campaign, and as a founding partner of Beyond The Music.
“Co-op Live also donates over £1m a year to the Co-op Foundation to support communities and empower young people to take social action through its new Young Gamechangers fund.
“Oak View Group and Co-op Live remain happy to meet with grassroots organisations once the venue is fully operational.”
Co-op Live boss Gary Roden speaking at the launch of Co-op Live just days before he resigned. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Co-op Live in Manchester
The news of the venue’s boss stepping down comes at a time when all eyes are on Co-op Live, the opening of which has been delayed.
The venue did host a test event with Rick Astley last weekend, but even that faced difficulties, with thousands of tickets cancelled to reduce capacity just hours before showtime.
It’s now set to officially open this Saturday 27 April with a performance by rock group The Black Keys.
The full statement from OVG about Gary’s resignation said: “Gary Roden has decided to resign. We’d like to thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans and wish him the best for the future.
“Rebecca Kane Burton has been named Interim GM, effective today. Rebecca is a seasoned veteran of venue management and live entertainment in the UK having served as VP/GM of The O2 from 2012-2016 and CEO of LW Theatres from 2016-2021.
Emily Sergeant -
10th November 2023 
