Industrial Placement – Retail Physical Estate

About The Role

Our 12-month Waitrose Retail Industrial Placement programme offers a unique and comprehensive experience designed to develop the next generation of leaders in Waitrose Retail. Over 12 months, IPs will gain experience in our Retail Physical Estate function, which is a Head Office role within the Retail Support Centre. The programme has been crafted to give IPs an in-depth understanding of our Waitrose expansion ambition in this exciting and rapidly evolving retail environment.

Our 12-month Waitrose Retail Industrial Placement programme offers a unique and comprehensive experience designed to develop the next generation of leaders in Waitrose Retail. Over 12 months, IPs will gain experience in our Retail Physical Estate function, which is a Head Office role within the Retail Support Centre. The programme has been crafted to give IPs an in-depth understanding of our Waitrose expansion ambition in this exciting and rapidly evolving retail environment.

Our programme combines hands‑on experience with real projects and on‑the‑job learning and development in our retail environment. During the programme, we will support you in developing your skills and capabilities so that you can be at your best, offering a range of learning and development opportunities, including coaching, mentoring, workshops, online learning, peer learning, and other unique opportunities that will stretch you.

The role will require extensive travelling and flexible working patterns (including nights, weekends & potentially public holidays), and you should expect a significant number of intensive weeks away working on‑site in order to provide a nationwide support function.

• Salary:
  Up to £24,000. Please note from 1st April 2026, the salary range for this role will be £26,500
• Contract type:
  This position is a Fixed Term contract for an Industrial Placement (typically 12 months).
• Proposed Start Date :
  July 2026
• Working pattern/flexible working:
  The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. The team is expected to go to the office once a month, although this may be slightly more in the initial stages of the placement.
• Location:
  
  Bracknell

• Support the Retail Physical Estate Specialist with administrative tasks associated with planned projects in order to ensure smooth on‑site implementation.
• Oversee and manage the delivery of phases of work in shops, ensuring they are fit to trade after the delivery of each phase of the project.
• Manage the agency team leaders, contractors, and shop Partners when on‑site to ensure the delivery of the phases of work.

As part of your degree, be able to take a year out in industry commencing July 2026.

We’re the largest employee‑owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant  continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality, and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food‑lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners, we all share the responsibility of ownership and its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours, and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And we all own it.

• It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre‑employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment…