Weekend Garden Centre Assistant (Fixed Term)

Hillier Nurseries Limited; Pevensey; On-site; GBP 4,900 - 5,500; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days annual leave (pro rata)

Free on-site parking

Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme

Company Christmas gifts

Exclusive retail discounts

Free solo entry to the Sir Harold Hill

Discounts at other gardens nationally

Job summary

Hillier Nurseries Limited is seeking a friendly Garden Centre Assistant to join the team at weekends at our Eastbourne garden centre. This fixed-term role offers 7.5 hours per week with the possibility of extra hours during peak periods.

You will deliver excellent customer service, advise on plants, help maintain stock and assist with cash handling while keeping areas tidy and safe. Applicants must be based in the UK with the right to work.

Qualifications

• Able to deliver friendly and helpful service to customers.
• Interest in plants, gardening, or garden centre environment.
• Able to work with energy, pace and a flexible approach.
• Team player willing to support different areas of the business when required.
• Full training provided; prior experience desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service and assist with customer queries.
• Give advice on plants and gardening products sold in the centre.
• Help maintain health and appearance of plants (watering, pruning, pests).
• Replenish, price, rotate and display stock to company standards.
• Process payments accurately and handle cash and card transactions.
• Support stock control, deliveries, wastage and reductions.
• Promote the Hillier Gardening Club to customers.
• Keep the centre, customer areas and facilities clean, tidy and safe.
• Report or address health and safety hazards.
• Support the garden centre cafe/restaurant on request.

Skills

Customer service

Plant knowledge

Flexibility

Team player

Positive attitude

Retail experience

Tools

POS system

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 3January 2027. The role offers guaranteed 7.5hours per week at weekends. 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.
• 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.