Description
Contract: Zero hours contract
Salary: £13.45 per hour
Location: Yardley, Solihull & Chelmsley Wood
Closing Date: Sunday 2nd March 2025
Working hours: Variable, subject to shop needs
Are you looking for a flexible role where you can use your retail experience that makes a real impact? Join us as a Standby Shop Assistant covering three of our stores!
About the Role
Our shops are buzzing hubs in the heart of their communities loved by our fantastic customers and supported by generous donations. Every purchase helps us continue our vital work, caring for over 40,000 animals each year through our rehoming, veterinary, and education programmes.
As a Standby Shop Assistant, you will step in to provide essential support to our instore teams, ensuring we have enough cover to keep our shop running smoothly.
You will assist with customer service, stock management, and general shop duties. With our shops open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00 and you will help us maintain high standards of service and presentation.
This is a zero-hours, which means your hours will vary based on the shop’s needs. We are committed to paying the Real Living Wage, which is currently £12 per hour. For this role, the total hourly rate is £13.45, including additional elements like holiday pay.
You will work alongside a dedicated team of staff and volunteers in a role that is both flexible and impactful. If you are excited about making a difference in a busy, supportive environment, we would love to hear from you.
About you
We are looking for someone who:
· Has previous experience working in a retail environment.
· Is proficient in cash handling and reconciliation.
· Has supervisory experience.
· Thrives in a customer-facing environment.
· Possesses computer literacy and administration skills.
It would also be great if you have experience:
· Managing volunteers.
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date. Applications will be reviewed as we receive them and interviews arranged accordingly. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.
Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.
In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.
Our generous benefits package includes:
* Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
* Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
* Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
* Free physiotherapy advice and face to face intervention
* Health cash plan
* Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
* Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
* Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
* Life assurance
* 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
* Enhanced family friendly policies
* Recognition scheme
* Annual volunteer days
* Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.
Blue Cross is a national charity that has been helping sick, injured and homeless pets since 1897.
Every month we help thousands of pets and their people by providing veterinary care, expert behaviour advice and find homeless pets loving families. We also offer education for future generations plus pet bereavement support for those who have lost their beloved pet companion.
We love the ways that pets can make such an amazing difference to the people they live with and we offer lifelong support and advice to help that unique relationship thrive. With your support we can give back to more pets and their families who need our help.
Pets change lives. We change theirs.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
We believe that every pet should enjoy a healthy life in a happy home, and we always seek to recruit the best people who share our values and commitment so we can continue to help and support pet owners across the UK to achieve this.
At Blue Cross, we want you to feel that you belong, without the need to hide any part of who you are.
Diversity and inclusion at Blue Cross means creating a workplace where all people, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, nation or country of origin, disability, age, and socioeconomic backgrounds are welcome, respected, supported, and have access to equal opportunities.
We are working hard to reflect the world we live in and the communities we serve at every level of our organisation. As much as we have made positive advances, we consider diversity and inclusion to be a work in progress – a continual commitment that remains a priority for all of us.
If you would like to talk to us about any reasonable adjustments or changes to our recruitment process to support you to be your best, then please get in touch either via email at jobs@bluecross.org.uk, via telephone on 01993 825515 or if you would prefer a video call then we can arrange this using Microsoft Teams.
Our values
Our values define the way we do things. We use them every day to guide us, and to make sure we put people and pets at the heart of everything we do.
Compassionate: We listen, we are non-judgmental, we are kind and caring to the pets and people we encounter, and we offer support in difficult times
Courageous: We make brave decisions, embrace change, and encourage innovation, ensuring we always act with integrity – doing the right thing even when no one is looking
Inclusive: We value all our relationships and work in an open and positive culture where we celebrate our diverse talents and empower you to be you