Retail Assistant

Southbank Centre; London Borough of Lambeth; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 22,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contributions from day 1 (5-9%

28 days annual leave

Enhanced sick pay

Enhanced family leave

Up to 30% discounts at onsite retail

Staff ticket offers

Free entry to Hayward Gallery

Free/discounted entry with reciprocals

Free staff yoga

Job summary

Southbank Centre is seeking a part-time Retail Assistant on a fixed-term contract until 31 March 2027. Join three shops across Hayward Gallery, Mandela Walk and Royal Festival Hall, delivering welcoming service and product knowledge to drive sales.

You'll engage customers, apply in-house merchandising, upsell, and work weekends with flexible shifts. The role emphasizes inclusion and supporting a diverse audience, with benefits including pension, leave and staff discounts.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in providing a high level of customer service in direct interactions.
• Identify and leverage sales opportunities to enhance revenue generation.
• Clear and effective communication skills tailored to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in operating tills and transactions accurately.
• Understanding of and dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion within the Southbank Centre and specifically within this role.

Responsibilities

• Engage proactively with customers, fostering a welcoming environment by addressing their inquiries, offering thorough product knowledge, and providing tailored advice and recommendations whenever possible. Implement inhouse visual merchandising strategies to create appealing displays that highlight key products and drive sales.
• Utilise sales techniques to enhance the customer shopping experience and increase sales conversion rates.
• Maintain up-to-date product knowledge to effectively assist customers and capitalise on sales opportunities, including upselling, while also being aware of site activities at the Southbank Centre.
• Please note that this role entails regular weekend shifts, as well as rostered and variable weekday shifts with flexible hours

Skills

Customer service

Sales skills

Communication

Cash handling

Diversity & inclusion

Tools

POS system

Job description

Retail Assistant

Application Deadline: 25 October 2026

Department: Commercial

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Part Time

Location: Southbank, London

Compensation: £14.80 / hour

Description

We are currently looking for a Retail Assistant to join our Commercial - Retail team on a part time fixed term contract until 31 March 2027. Join our retail team at the Southbank Centre, where we're dedicated to crafting inviting spaces and fostering memorable experiences together. With three bustling shops situated across our site—in the Hayward Gallery, Mandela Walk, and the newly refurbished space in the Royal Festival Hall—you'll play a vital role as a Retail Assistant. Your contributions will uphold our welcoming atmosphere and contribute to our culture of teamwork and innovation.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on the closing date for the job posting.

We endeavour to keep job adverts open for at least two weeks for prospective applicants to apply. However, if we receive a high volume of applications for a role, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to ensure consideration for shortlisting.

Need reasonable adjustments? Please contact us so we can help make the application process accessible to you. Be sure to include the job you are applying for and your full name.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage proactively with customers, fostering a welcoming environment by addressing their inquiries, offering thorough product knowledge, and providing tailored advice and recommendations whenever possible Implement inhouse visual merchandising strategies to create appealing displays that highlight key products and drive sales.
• Utilise sales techniques to enhance the customer shopping experience and increase sales conversion rates.
• Maintain up-to-date product knowledge to effectively assist customers and capitalise on sales opportunities, including upselling, while also being aware of site activities at the Southbank Centre.
• Please note that this role entails regular weekend shifts, as well as rostered and variable weekday shifts with flexible hours

Skills & Experience

• Previous experience in providing a high level of customer service in direct interactions, ideally within a sales setting.
• Ability to identify and leverage sales opportunities to enhance revenue generation.
• Clear and effective communication skills tailored to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in operating tills and transactions accurately.
• Understanding of and dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion within the Southbank Centre and specifically within this role.

Benefits

• A min 5% pension contribution (going up to 9% depending on employee contribution), from day 1 of employment
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced family leave benefits
• Up to 30% discounts at onsite retail, food and beverage vendors
• Staff ticket offers for SC events
• Free entry to Hayward Gallery
• Free/discounted entry with other reciprocal organisations
• Free staff yoga