Retail Leaders School Leaver Programme

Learn to lead and see what it takes to manage one of our multi-million-pound stores .

About the role

This is your opportunity to gain hands-on experience and start your journey towards becoming a Store Manager. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also choose to complete a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship in Business Management.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll be at the heart of our stores, getting close to customers and colleagues while learning the routines and processes that make sure our stores run smoothly. This role is about being hands-on, working across all the departments to understand each role and learn from experienced managers. You’ll see firsthand how our managers adapt to the unpredictable challenges that arise daily, all while maintaining the highest standards of service.

Six months into the programme, you’ll have the chance to complete a Level 6 apprenticeship. We appreciate that further study is only for some; that’s why it’s optional. By this time, you’ll be ready to take on your first Team Manager appointment, where you’ll start putting your new skills into action.

Throughout the programme, you'll rotate through our different departments in store, including Food, Clothing, and Home and Hospitality, gaining comprehensive knowledge and experience that will prepare you to step into a Deputy or Store Manager position.

And your development doesn’t stop there. We’ll continue to support you to progress your career, whether that means taking on larger stores or exploring other areas of the business to broaden your expertise.

What you’ll need

If you choose to study the apprenticeship, you will need strong functional literacy and numeracy skills (A*-C/9-4 in GCSE English and Maths or equivalent). If you have good literacy and numeracy skills but lack formal qualifications, you’ll need to complete Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications alongside the apprenticeship. Additionally, you must have been a resident in the United Kingdom for at least three years before the start of the programme or have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

What we look for

To thrive in this role, you’ll need to be a proactive team player who’s hands-on, with a "say it, do it” attitude and a natural ability to connect with both customers and colleagues. You’ll be eager to take on responsibility and committed to working hard to get the job done. Success here means being quick on your feet, solving problems with confidence, and staying calm under pressure. If you’re ambitious, adaptable, and ready to learn from the best, we want to hear from you.

Example career path

You’ll build a career as unique as you based on your skills and interests, but here is a common path that many colleagues in Retail make their own.

- Team Manager
- Deputy Manager
- Store Manager
- Regional Manager

Learning and support

Your development is our priority. We’ll give you a structured programme including mentoring, on-the-job training, and opportunities to solve real challenges that will help you build a long-term career at M&S. And, if we believe you can reach your potential faster, we will give you the tools and opportunities to do it. But the person who is really going to make this happen is you. With our support, we want you to own and drive your development.