Retail Assistant (fixed term) Closing date: 10:00 on Monday 26 May 2025

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society seeks customer service assistants for the festival season. Responsibilities include assisting with merchandise sales, providing information, and ensuring a positive experience for visitors. Candidates should have experience in retail or hospitality and strong communication skills. Flexible hours are available, with a pay rate of £12.60 per hour.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail or hospitality.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to engage with diverse groups.

Responsibilities

• Assist customers in purchasing merchandise.
• Maintain shop tidiness and product display.
• Provide information on ticketing and venues.

Skills

Communication

Customer service

Attention to detail

Numeracy

Adaptability

Calm under pressure

Foreign language skills

Job description

Closing date: 10:00 on Monday 26 May 2025

Interview date: Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 June 2025

Start date: Thursday 24 July 2025

End date: Friday 29 August 2025

Location: Based in our central Edinburgh office

Background

The idea at the heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is simple: anyone with a desire to perform and an avenue willing to host them is welcome. No individual or committee determines who can or cannot perform at the Fringe.

It all began in 1947 with eight companies – six of them from Scotland – taking a risk, turning up uninvited and performing on the ‘fringe’ of the inaugural Edinburgh International Festival. Over 75 years later, the Fringe has grown to become one of the greatest platforms for creative freedom in the world, second only to the Olympics in terms of global ticketed events. In 2024, 3,745 shows took place in 296 venues across Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society was founded by artists to nurture and uphold the Fringe's values of inclusivity, experimentation, and imagination. We exist to support, advise, and encourage everyone who wants to participate in the Fringe, provide information and assistance to audiences, and celebrate the Fringe and what it stands for worldwide.

Role and responsibilities

You will perform a wide range of duties, including but not limited to:

• Successfully assisting customers to purchase merchandise and delivering first-class customer service
• Understanding our merchandise range and their selling points to help customers find the perfect souvenir of the Fringe
• Ensuring the shop is tidy, well-maintained, and products are displayed to maximize sales
• Assisting with processing stock deliveries and organizing stock and the stockroom to facilitate shop replenishment and prevent lost sales
• Providing a positive experience for all who engage with the Fringe Society and giving accurate, helpful information
• Offering an efficient information service to the public and advising on ticketing, programmes, and venue enquiries

Person specification

• Experience working in a busy environment, especially in retail or hospitality
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact with diverse groups of people
• Ability to listen, engage with customer needs, and respond concisely and helpfully
• Adaptability and quick learning of new information and procedures
• Ability to remain calm under pressure while maintaining efficient service
• Attention to detail, good numeracy, and accurate cash handling
• Proficiency in English
• Experience with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe or similar festivals
• Local knowledge of Edinburgh and the festival season
• Knowledge of manual handling techniques
• Foreign language skills, especially in Spanish, French, German, or Italian
• British Sign Language skills

Rate of pay and benefits

The hourly rate is £12.60. Normal shifts are six hours between 09:00 and 18:30, Monday to Sunday, organized via a rota system notified in advance. We offer three contracted hours options:

• 30 hours in five shifts
• 24 hours in four shifts
• 18 hours in three shifts

Please specify your preference in your application. We support flexible working arrangements and are open to discussing flexibility at any stage. Remote working is not available, but flexible hours are possible.

We use positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act to promote diversity, aiming to prioritize candidates from D/deaf, disabled, Black, Asian, or ethnically diverse backgrounds when candidates are of equal merit.

The Fringe is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility, and all staff are expected to contribute to these goals. We are an equal opportunity employer, a Disability Confident Employer, and welcome applications from all community sectors.