Glasgow locals Linsey McGillivray and Beth McCready both joined M&S as teenagers on fixed-term contracts. They now hold management positions in Glasgow stores, with more than 40 years’ tenure between them, and are welcoming this year’s seasonal intake.
In October, M&S announced over 700 seasonal job opportunities across its 55 stores in Scotland, and around 350 of these jobs are based in the Glasgow area. The start dates range from November until a week before Christmas.
Some of these new colleagues are joining the teams at M&S Braehead and M&S Food Store in Kingsgate, East Kilbride under the leadership of Linsey and Beth, in a full circle moment.
Linsey McGillivray, Fashion & Home Deputy Store Manager, M&S Braehead
Linsey first joined M&S Sauchiehall Street on a fixed-term contract over Christmas in 1999, where she worked on the tills in the food department. Having joined when she had just turned 16, Linsey has grown her career over the years with M&S and today, she is Deputy Store Manager for Fashion & Home in the Braehead store.
She first applied for the seasonal job to make her own money and get some independence, but M&S was a big part of Linsey’s life even before she became an M&S colleague. Growing up, her Mum and Gran would take her shopping at the Sauchiehall Street store most weekends. Linsey commented: “It’s such a beloved brand. I remember when I first got the job, my Gran was so proud to tell her friends that her granddaughter works for M&S.”
Linsey continued working at M&S throughout her studies and beyond. Seizing opportunities to learn and develop, she was given more responsibility over time; from becoming a first aider, to training new colleagues, and travelling to London to support the launch of the Per Una brand. When Linsey turned 20, she was put on a management training programme, and her career blossomed from there.
Looking back over the years, supporting the opening of new stores in Silverburn Shopping Centre and the Glasgow Fort stand out as career highlights, with Linsey commenting that it’s the people that make the job so good. “We have a great support network here in Glasgow. There are so many opportunities to move around and lead a varied career with M&S, and that’s because the people you meet along the way are always championing and supporting you.
“My advice to any fixed-term colleagues interested in pursuing a career with M&S is to ask lots of questions and let our team know about your ambitions, and you’ll find that so many people are happy to mentor you, provide training, and point you in the right direction.”
With the countdown to Christmas on, Linsey commented that flicking through the M&S Food Christmas brochure with her husband is a yearly tradition. “All of the party food is phenomenal, but I have to say our Peppermint Bark Cookies are unreal. We also have a beautiful fragrance candle this year, in collaboration with Kelly Hoppen, that smells incredible and lasts forever.”
Beth McCready, Store Manager, M&S Food Store in Kingsgate, East Kilbride
Beth first joined M&S Braehead on a fixed-term contract in 2008, when she was 17 years old, working late night shifts in the lingerie department while still at school. Fast forward 17 years and Beth is today the Store Manager of M&S Food Store in Kingsgate, East Kilbride, with up to 115 colleagues reporting into her, including this year’s seasonal hires.
Reflecting back on when she first applied for the job at M&S, Beth said: “M&S has always had a reputation for looking after its people, which definitely motivated me to apply. And, of course, my mum was very excited by the prospect of a family discount.”
Having first joined during her final year of school, Beth stayed with the retailer throughout her studies at Glasgow Caledonian University and beyond. With support from line managers and colleagues across the business, Beth worked her way up, becoming a section manager, a deputy store manager, and now store manager for the Food Store in East Kilbride.
“I’ve lived a whole life while at M&S. Over my time working here, I’ve met my partner and gotten married, I’ve had a baby and made genuine friends for life through my work. We’re a tight knit group across the Glasgow stores.”
The new colleagues joining Beth at M&S Kingsgate this Christmas will be helping with a variety of store jobs, from working on the tills and providing quality customer service to helping with Christmas food orders.
Sharing her top tips for new colleagues, Beth said: “Having a positive attitude and showing enthusiasm will get you far. I’d also say that knowledge is power; learn all you can about the brand and its products. Be clear with your team about your goals, and we’ll do everything we can to help you reach them.”
Like Linsey, the Peppermint Bark Cookies are a standout product for Beth this festive season. “I also love the Santa Jack-in-a-box musical tin! My daughter is obsessed with it,” she added.
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