Marks & Spencer

The overview

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is a British-headquartered retailer, with over 700 stores in the UK and another 300 in around 40 territories worldwide, from Bahrain to the Ukraine. Traditionally, it operated out of large-scale department stores, but since 2005 it has diversified into smaller food-only outlets known as ‘Simply Food’.

M&S sells clothes, food, furniture and household goods. Its website claims that 51% of its business derives from food, while the remaining 49% comes from clothing and homeware sales. It’s said that more than one in ten items of clothing purchased bought in the UK are purchased from M&S.

M&S attracts much media attention in the UK, with its financial performance being much publicised and commented upon.

Origins

In 1884, in Leeds, Michael Marks opened his Penny Bazaar, which proved to be something of a hit. Ten years later he was able to take on Thomas Spencer as a business partner, and the company grew from there. Today it employs around 78,000 people worldwide.

Possibly because of its British origins, M&S attracts much media attention in the UK, with its financial performance being much publicised and commented upon.

Plan A

One of Marks & Spencer’s biggest ongoing projects is ‘Plan A’. It is a corporate social responsibility scheme that was originally launched in 2007, and now has over 180 distinct points for action. Its five areas of focus are: climate change, fair partnership, health, sustainable raw materials, and waste.

Some of the associated initiatives include:

• A 5p charge on carrier bags to encourage less usage
• only using free-range eggs, even in product ingredients
• selling school uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles
• moving to rail distribution in order to reduce carbon emissions
• launching eco-stores in Pollok and Bournemouth.

In March 2010 Marks & Spencer also announced a scheme to be the world’s most sustainable retailer within five years. Because of these initiatives, and the publicity surrounding them, Marks & Spencer is widely regarded as an ethical retailer.

To further this, a recent development in Plan A is the concept of, 'Schwopping'. Customers are encouraged to bring unwanted clothing into the store on a 'buy one, give one' principle. Donated clothing is passed to Marks & Spencer's partner in these affair, Oxfam, and the customer is rewarded with a £5 voucher for Marks & Spencer products.

Awards and rankings

• Ranked 115 in the top 300 graduate employers from The Guardian UK 300 in 2011.
• Ranked 55 in Deloitte's Global Powers of Retailing, 2012
• Won a Green Business Awards 2010 for its carbon emissions ambition.
• Won an Effective Mobile Marketing Award for ‘most effective mobile site’ (for the user experience and design) with partner Mobile Interactive Group.
• Was awarded one of the first Community Marks for its investment in the community in 2008.
• Listed as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Women, 2012

Salary and benefits

UK salaries for M&S graduate schemes are between £23,500 and £28,000, depending on the scheme and location:

• Retail management: £24,000 (excluding the London allowance)
• Head office: food product development, food buying, general merchandise buying, merchandising, design and garment technology: £23,500 (including London location allowance)
• Head office: food technology, logistics and IT: £25,500 (including London location allowance)
• Head office – Ecommerce: £28,000 (including London allowance).

Salaries for sandwich placements at M&S

Salaries for students of business placements (12-month or 6-month placements taken as part of a degree course) are between £17,500 and £19,500

• Retail management and retail HR: £17,500 (excluding London allowance)
• Head office: £19,500 (including London allowance), except Per Una placements, which pay £16,500.

Graduate scheme benefits

• 28 days holiday from the first year
• 20% Marks & Spencer discount (40% discount for store staff)
• Award-winning pension plan
• An interest free loan to help moving into the role
• Optional ‘M&S extras’ including discounts on iPods and iPads, gym membership, theme park tickets, health club fees, RAC membership and UK resort holidays.