Retail Sales Assistant

PROSPECT HOSPICE LIMITED; Swindon; On-site; GBP 8,000 - 10,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Prospect Hospice in Swindon is seeking a Retail Sales Assistant for our Clive Parade charity shop. You will support the Shop Manager with daily operations, provide excellent customer service, process stock, price items and help with visual merchandising to maximise donations and revenue.

The role is 15 hours per week across two days (including weekends). You will work as part of a friendly team of volunteers, helping create a welcoming shopping experience while upholding Prospect Hospice values

Qualifications

• Previous retail, merchandising or display experience.
• Eye for presenting products in attractive ways.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Flexible and positive approach supporting customers, donors and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service to donors, customers and colleagues, creating a positive experience.
• Build sales and achieve daily targets through stock rotation, processing and visual merchandising.
• Process and price donated stock to standards, merchandise items to maximise revenue, support Gift Aid.
• Support volunteers and ensure a welcoming environment across shop locations.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Merchandising

IT basics

Job description

Retail Sales Assistant – Clive Parade

Looking for a Retail Sales Assistant job in Swindon where your work really makes a difference? Join Prospect Hospice at our Clive Parade charity shop and turn great customer experiences into vital support for local people living with life-limiting illnesses.

Every sale, every donated item and every customer who chooses to shop with us helps raise the funds we need to provide compassionate end-of-life care and support for people and families across our community. As a Retail Sales Assistant, you’ll play an important part in making that possible – combining customer service, sales, stock processing and visual merchandising with supporting our fantastic team of volunteers.

About Prospect Hospice

Our shops are at the heart of Prospect Hospice and the communities we serve. They bring people together, promote sustainable shopping and help more people discover and support the work of the hospice. As part of our retail team, you’ll create a welcoming experience for customers and donors while being a proud ambassador for Prospect Hospice in your local community.

Hours: 15 hours per week (2 days out of 7, includes weekend working.)

What is the role?

As a Retail Sales Assistant at our Clive Parade charity shop, you’ll support the Shop Manager and Assistant Manager with day-to-day shop operations. You’ll:

• Provide excellent customer service to donors, customers and colleagues, helping to create a positive experience of Prospect Hospice and encourage repeat support.
• Take an active role in building sales and achieving daily targets through stock rotation, processing and attractive visual merchandising.
• Process and price donated stock to expected standards, merchandise items to maximise revenue, and support Gift Aid through correct stock processing, donor sign-up and donor queries.
• Support our volunteer team day to day, helping to create a welcoming and positive environment, ensuring volunteers feel supported in their roles, and assisting with the integration of new volunteers.

You’ll also follow till and cash-handling procedures, maintain high standards of security, health and safety and housekeeping, and provide cover across other Prospect Hospice shops when required.

About you

You’ll be a friendly, confident and customer-focused person with previous retail, merchandising or display experience, who enjoys working in a busy retail environment and being part of a supportive team. You’ll have an eye for presenting a wide range of products in attractive and engaging ways that encourage customers to browse and buy.

You’ll bring:

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• The ability to work well as part of a team and independently, using your initiative when needed.
• Good basic IT skills, including email and Microsoft Word.
• A flexible and positive approach to supporting customers, donors and volunteers.

Additional Information:

• Applicants must be over 18 due to key-holder responsibilities.
• Flexibility to work additional hours or at other Prospect Hospice locations when business needs require; access to transportation may therefore be useful.
• You’ll be expected to demonstrate Prospect Hospice values and behaviours, work inclusively, maintain high professional standards and be open, honest and transparent.

Please see the job description and person specification for full details.

Why join us?

At Prospect Hospice, you’ll be part of a compassionate organisation that makes a real difference every day. We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace where colleagues are empowered to grow, innovate and deliver exceptional care. We offer:

• A meaningful role where you work truly makes a difference
• 27 days annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time)
• Generous contributory pension scheme and life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support, discounts including Blue Light Card
• Opportunities for learning and development
• Supportive, values-driven culture
• Flexible working options (where possible)
• Free parking on-site

Join us and help shape the future of learning and development for our people, our volunteers and the communities we serve.

Interviews will take place on Friday, 9 October 2026.

Equality & Diversity

Prospect Hospice is committed to encouraging a diverse and inclusive working environment. We recognise that promoting diversity and eliminating discrimination in our workplace will bring benefits for our people, our business and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, offending background, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we support. As part of our SAFER recruitment process, offers of employment will be subject to thorough checks, which may include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, online and social media checks and verification of qualifications. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to adhere to our safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

We will review applications as they come in and may close the vacancy before the closing date.