Weekend Garden Centre Assistant (Fixed Term)

Hillier Nurseries Limited; Horsham; On-site; GBP 4,500 - 6,100; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site parking

31 days annual leave pro rata

Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme

Company Christmas gifts

Exclusive retail discounts

Job summary

Hillier Nurseries Limited is seeking a friendly Garden Centre Assistant to join our weekend team at Horsham. You’ll support outdoor plant areas and Christmas tree sales, provide product advice and help maintain stock and displays.

This fixed-term role covers peak trading through 20 December 2026 with a guaranteed 8 hours per week and flexible extra hours during busy periods. The role includes on-site parking and employee benefits.

Qualifications

• Good customer service skills and a friendly approach.
• Interest in plants, gardening or garden centre environment.
• Able to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Able to stand, walk, bend and lift/light moving of plants and trees.

Responsibilities

• Assist customers with queries and provide product advice.
• Maintain outdoor plant area and seasonal displays to company standards.
• Assist with Christmas tree sales and tree handling during peak periods.

Skills

Customer service

Plant knowledge

Team player

Outdoors work

Job description

• Location: Horsham, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Hillier Garden Centre at Horshamis looking for a friendly and enthusiastic Garden Centre Assistant to join our weekend team, primarily supporting our outdoor plant area and seasonal Christmas tree sales.

You’ll help create a welcoming experience for customers by providing excellent service, offering product advice and keeping the outdoor plant and seasonal sales areas clean, tidy, well-stocked and ready for trade. During the Christmas trading period, you’ll also help customers select and purchase Christmas trees and support the safe handling, preparation and movement of trees.

This is a fixed-term role to cover business requirements through the peak trading period, expected to end on 20 December 2026. The role offers guaranteed 8hours 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 Christmas tree sales during the seasonal trading period, including assisting customers and safely handling, preparing and moving trees in line with training and safe working practices.
• 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.
• Comfortable working outdoors throughout the year and in a range of weather conditions, with appropriate clothing and equipment provided where required.
• Able to carry out the physical requirements of the role, which regularly include standing, walking, bending and safely lifting and moving plants, stock and Christmas trees.
• 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.
• 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.