Prospects strong for team players
Nov 1 2007
Western Mail
YOU may already be working in a shop or you could be a recent or prospective graduate as many retailers run specific graduate trainee schemes. But with retail our nation’s favourite past-time, competition among employers is rife to attract the best candidates. One who has managed to successfully climb the ladder is Liz Mayer of high street bakers Greggs.
Now area manager for Cardiff, Liz, 36, manages more than 140 people across 12 stores throughout the city and its suburbs and has just picked up the company award for Area Manager of the Year. She started working for Greggs more than 12 years ago after applying for a job as a shop manager.
“I was managing a beauty salon in Cardiff and wanted a change but, because I had limited retail experience was offered an initial position as assistant manager at Greggs’ busy Cardiff Bus Station shop,” she explains.
“Then within two to three months I was made manager of our Whitchurch shop and I’ve just progressed from there, really. Now I’m responsible for making sure that all our Cardiff shop staff are supported in all aspects of retail management, from merchandising to ordering, health and safety to training and so on.”
Liz is based at Greggs’s Treforest bakery but spends a lot of her time on the road, working closely with each of the 12 shops in Cardiff. She advises choosing a larger company if you’re looking for career opportunities and good training.
“At Greggs it’s down to you how far you advance: the opportunities are there and you’re encouraged by the prospect of real career progression but, at the same time, you really feel you’re not just a number, you’re part of a team, working with the shops and colleagues in the other departments at the bakery,” she says.
Most importantly, says Liz, you need to have the right attitude and personality for the job.
“It certainly helps to have worked on the shop floor so you understand the daily challenges your staff are facing. At the same time you need to be fair, approachable and consistent – and, of course, enthusiastic, as it’s hard work – and then you’ll get the best out of your team,” she says.
“I love problem-solving and working closely with people as a team – and that’s really what this job is about.”
The employment packages on offer vary but you can typically expect to earn between £23,000 and £32,000 with other benefits normally included. With Greggs, for example, a company car, mobile phone, laptop and private health insurance are also included.
For more information on retail opportunities at Greggs go to www.greggs.co.uk/people/recruitment