Weekend Garden Centre Assistant

Hillier Nurseries Limited; Pevensey; On-site; GBP 5,000 - 6,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

20% employee discount (after 3 months)

50% restaurant/menu discount (on shift

31 days' annual leave (pro rata)

Free on-site parking

Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme

Company Christmas gifts

Exclusive retail discounts

Job summary

Hillier Garden Centre at Eastbourne is seeking a friendly Garden Centre Assistant to join weekends, covering peak trading periods. You will help create a welcoming experience for customers, provide product advice and keep the centre clean and well-stocked.

This fixed-term role runs until 3 January 2027 with a guaranteed 7.5 hours per week and opportunities for extra hours during busy periods. Hourly rate up to £12.71, with pay aligned to National Minimum Wage rules.

Qualifications

• Friendly and enthusiastic attitude.
• Interest in plants, gardening or garden centre environment.
• Able to work with energy, pace and a flexible approach.
• Willingness to support different areas of the business when required.
• Full training provided.

Responsibilities

• Providing excellent customer service and helping customers with queries.
• Giving advice on plants, gardening products and other items sold in the centre.
• Maintaining health and appearance of plants including watering and pruning.
• Replenishing, pricing, rotating and displaying stock to company standards.
• Processing payments accurately and handling cash and card transactions.
• Supporting stock control including deliveries and wastage reductions.
• Promoting the Hillier Gardening Club to customers.
• Keeping areas clean, tidy, organised and safe.

Skills

Customer service

Plant knowledge

Team player

Energetic

Flexible

Job description

Hillier Garden Centre at Eastbourneis looking for a friendly and enthusiastic Garden Centre Assistant to join our team at weekends.

Working across the garden centre, you'll help create a welcoming experience for customers by providing excellent service, offering product advice and helping to keep the centre clean, tidy, well-stocked and ready for trade.

This is a fixed-term role to cover business requirements through the peak trading period, expected to end on 3rd January 2027, although this may be reviewed depending on business needs. The role offers guaranteed 7.5hours per week. Additional hours are regularly available during peak trading periods, so we are looking for candidates who can offer flexibility to increase their working hours when required.

Hourly rate of pay up to £12.71 per hour. Actual pay will be determined in line with National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage requirements.

What you’ll be doing

• Providing excellent customer service and helping customers with their queries.
• Giving helpful advice on plants, gardening products and other items sold in the garden centre.
• Helping to maintain the health and appearance of plants, including watering, pruning and checking for pests or disease.
• Replenishing, pricing, rotating and displaying stock to company standards.
• Processing payments accurately and handling cash and card transactions.
• Supporting stock control, including deliveries, stock adjustments, wastage and reductions.
• Promoting the Hillier Gardening Club to customers.
• Keeping the garden centre, customer areas and facilities clean, tidy, organised and safe.
• Reporting or dealing with any health and safety hazards.
• Supporting the garden centre restaurant, café or coffee shop on an ad-hoc basis when required by the management team.

What we’re looking for

• A positive, friendly and helpful attitude.
• An interest in plants, gardening or working in a garden centre environment.
• Able to work with energy, pace and a flexible approach.
• A team player who is willing to support different areas of the business when required.
• Able to respond to challenges and demonstrate a can-do approach.
• Previous retail, garden centre or customer service experience is desirable but not essential, as full training will be provided.
• Full training and access to our Online Learning Hub.
• 20% employee discount (after 3 months continuous service).
• 50% discount on the restaurant menu whilst on shift (after 3 months continuous service).
• 31 days' annual leave (pro rata for part-time colleagues).
• Free on-site parking.
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme for you and your immediate family.
• Company Christmas gifts (eligibility applies).
• Access to exclusive retail discounts, deals and cashback offers.
• Free solo entry to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey, plus discounts at other gardens nationally.

You will be joining a respected family business with over 160 years of horticultural heritage, working in a friendly and supportive environment where every team member is valued.

We can only consider candidates who are already based in the UK and have the right to work. Hillier is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.