Buying & Merchandising Apprenticeship

Spot the trends before they arrive and learn how to match customers with the products they love. This programme will put you right at the heart of our Clothing and Home team.

About the role

We’re committed to helping you build a strong foundation in the business, offering a blend of on-the-job experience and structured learning at the Fashion Retail Academy. From day one, you'll be fully immersed in our world, working on real projects that shape the future of fashion and homeware at M&S.

What you’ll be doing

Working in fashion is fast-paced and ever-evolving. Season to season, our goal is to delight customers with new must-have clothes and homeware collections. Behind-the-scenes, we’re constantly innovating, looking for greener, smarter, and speedier ways to get things done. If you’re excited to be right in the thick of it and making an impact, this is the programme for you.

Over the course of 18 months, you’ll rotate through our Buying and Merchandising departments, gaining hands-on experience and deep insights into each area. By the end of your rotations, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to pursue a career in Buying or Merchandising. You’ll play a key role in developing new ranges of clothing and home products, engaging with suppliers across the globe, and learning from experienced colleagues as you sharpen your creative and analytical skills.

On a day-to-day basis, you’ll be analysing data to pinpoint trends, predicting customer needs, and ensuring stock is exactly where it needs to be at the right time. You’ll also provide vital administrative support across teams, all while working towards a Level 4 Buying and Merchandising Apprenticeship. By the end of the programme, you’ll be fully equipped to step into a Buying or Merchandising Admin Assistant role.

What you’ll need

You’ll need GCSEs in Maths (4-9/C-A*) and English (4-9/C-A*) and must not have already completed a Level 4 qualification or above in Fashion Retail, Buying or Merchandising. Additionally, you should have been a resident in the United Kingdom for at least the previous three years before the start of the programme or have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

What we look for

We’re looking for individuals with a genuine curiosity, a love for numbers, and a natural eye for detail. You should have a strong interest in the commercial world and a real passion for fashion. We value people who are eager to learn, resilient when faced with challenges, and always striving to do better. If that sounds like you, then you could be a key player in building the next era of retail at M&S.

Being an in-person business

We're at our best when we're close to customers, and for many of us at M&S, that means working in store every day.

To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected. It also means we can solve problems as soon as they arise, learn and grow as a team, build trust, and get closer to our colleagues.

Example career path

- Buying Admin Assistant
- Assistant Buyer
- Junior Buyer
- Buyer

Learning and support

Your development is our priority. We’ll give you the opportunities to do some incredible things early in your career, but we’ll always make sure you have the support you need to seize those opportunities. From mentoring to on-the-job training, we’ll make sure you’re ready to unleash your potential and ignite your career.