Main - Sales Assistant & Barista

WHSmith; Manchester; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 15,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Pension scheme

Paid annual leave

Job summary

WHSmith in Manchester is recruiting an experienced Coffee Barista/Sales Assistant for our busy hospital cafe. You will be confident with coffee preparation, cash handling, and delivering fast, friendly service in a high‑volume environment.

Join a team that values great coffee, customer care and teamwork, with benefits including staff discounts, pension, and paid annual leave. Previous barista experience is essential and you should thrive under pressure while maintaining high store standards.

Qualifications

• Previous barista experience is essential.
• Confident with till/cash handling.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong focus on delivering great coffee and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional customer service.
• Carry out stock replenishment and keep areas tidy.
• Assist with display and merchandising.
• Work well in a team or independently as required.

Skills

Barista experience

Cash handling

Customer service

Teamwork

Tools

Till / POS system

Job description

Posted Saturday, 29 August 2026 at 00:00

We are a busy Food to Go Marks and Spencer Cafe in the heart of The Christie Hospital, looking for an experienced Coffee Barista/Sales Assistant to join our team!

We are looking for someone who is confident in all things coffee and comfortable working in a fast paced environment- making multiple drinks, serving customers and keeping service running smoothly. Previous barista experience and confidence using a till/ cash handling are essential. Our Cafe can get extremely busy, so you'll need to work well under pressure, bring plenty of energy and take pride in delivering great coffee and excellent customer service.

Please note: previous barista/ coffee experience is essential for this role. If you don't have this experience, please look out for other postings!

As a Sales Assistant you’ll provide exceptional customer service and work independently or as part of a team to deliver our fantastic store standards. We want you, our customers, and our colleagues to be proud to share their journey with us.

What being a Sales Assistant is all about:

• Delivering an exceptional customer service to all our customers.
• Carrying out stock replenishment, ensuring all areas of the store remain tidy and inviting for our customers to shop.
• Meeting high standards of display and visual merchandising helping customers find what they're looking for easily.
• Being part of a team and supporting colleagues.

What our Stores would love to see:

• A passion for customers having an exceptional experience in store.
• Confident in communicating within the team.
• Motivated to achieve fantastic results and standards.
• Adaptable to meet company requirements and goals.

How we reward our teams:

We know you’ll work hard to make WHSmith a success and keep our customers happy, so as well as your salary, pension scheme, paid annual leave and employee discounts, we’ll reward you with a range of deals from retail partners that will help you save money and make memories, whether a delicious meal, an adventurous day out, or tickets to see the latest blockbuster.

Whatever the future brings, our Employee Assistance Programme will support you with help and guidance for your wellbeing whether physical, mental or financial.

About us:

WHSmith has a remarkable heritage and we are growing particularly in our airports, hospitals, rail stations and motorway services. Our aim is simple, to offer our products to everyone on any of life’s journeys. Our InMotion brand, a leading digital accessories business, continues to grow and develop, offering an amazing customer experience with all the latest tech. We have created great partnerships with the likes of M&S and Costa Coffee, ‘broaden our offering’ to our customers throughout the UK. That’s why, as we continue our journey, our aim is simple: to make every one of life’s journeys better!

WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.