The posting
Job description
Royal Voluntary Service has an opportunity available for a Retail Customer Assistant to join our team at Wigmore Valley Park, 66 Eaton Green Road, Luton LU2 9JB. You will join us on a Part-time, Fixed-term contract until 31st March 2027, and in return, you will receive a salary of £12.71 per hour (FTE £23,136 per annum).
About Royal Voluntary Service
Royal Voluntary Service mobilises volunteers to build a stronger, more connected Britain. We believe in volunteering for all and work to grow participation across all backgrounds, ages and abilities.
Our volunteer-powered services provide practical help and human connection to people who need it most. GoVo, our digital volunteering platform, helps people find causes they care about and supports charities across the country.
About the Retail Customer Assistant role:
As a Retail Customer Assistant, you will support the effective day-to-day running of the retail outlet by maintaining high standards and providing friendly, helpful and efficient service, helping every customer have a positive experience.
Location: Wigmore Valley Park, 66 Eaton Green Road, Luton LU2 9JB
Hours: 12 hours a week, working a 6 hour shift on a Saturday and Sunday. We will consider a job share for this role, with flexibility to work either of the shifts
This is what we're looking for:
We are interested in what you can do and your willingness to learn. You do not need to have worked in retail before. Relevant experience may have been gained through paid work, volunteering, education, community involvement or another setting. Training will be provided for the role. As part of the application, you will be asked to answer three structured evidence questions (up to 200 words each) and one short digital-skills question.
Essential criteria
- Experience of providing customer service or supporting people in a customer-facing, service, community, volunteering or similar environment.
- Ability to provide a friendly, helpful and inclusive service, responding appropriately to different customer needs.
- Ability to communicate effectively with customers, volunteers and colleagues, using appropriate communication methods.
- Ability to follow instructions and agreed procedures and work accurately, including requirements relating to payments, stock, food hygiene and health and safety where relevant to the role.
- Ability to work effectively with others, including colleagues and volunteers, and complete agreed tasks independently when required.
- Basic digital skills, including using email, or the ability to learn the till systems required for the role.
- A reliable approach to work and willingness to learn and undertake the training required for the role, with reasonable adjustments provided where needed.
- Commitment to treating customers, volunteers and colleagues with dignity and respect and contributing to an inclusive and welcoming environment.
- Be comfortable with periods of lone working while on duty.
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience specifically within retail, a charity shop, cafe or hospitality environment.
- Experience using a till, Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) or other payment system.
- Experience receiving deliveries, replenishing stock or undertaking stock checks.
- Experience working with or supporting volunteers.
- Knowledge of food hygiene requirements, for cafe-based roles.
- Experience undertaking basic administration or record keeping.
We welcome applications from disabled people and will consider reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace. The essential criteria describe the minimum outcomes required for the role; we recognise that these may be demonstrated and achieved in different ways.
This is what you'll be doing:
- Provide friendly, helpful and efficient customer service.
- Welcome customers, provide information about products and offers, answer questions and accept orders and payments.
- Prepare hot and cold drinks, where applicable to the site.
- Serve freshly prepared food, where applicable to the site.
- Operate the till and undertake cash reconciliation as required.
- Receive deliveries, replenish stock, rotate stock by date and assist with stock checks.
- Support and guide volunteers, leading by example to help create a positive volunteer experience.
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness and follow health and safety and food hygiene requirements, where applicable to the site.
- Move stock safely around the site using appropriate equipment, with reasonable adjustments considered where required.
This is how you'll be doing it:
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Sets a positive example through inclusive behaviours in all interactions. Values diverse perspectives and experiences, promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion, and contributes to a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to thrive. Actively supports our commitment to reflecting the diversity of the communities we exist for.
Environment and Sustainability Sets a positive example through environmentally responsible behaviours in day-to-day activities. Supports actions that reduce environmental impact, use resources responsibly and contribute to a more sustainable RVS. Actively supports Royal Voluntary Service's commitment to continuously improving environmental performance.
Delivers Objectives Strives to deliver what is expected or required of them and consistently meets objectives and deadlines. Is dependable and does not like abandoned tasks without seeing them through to the end. Work is often conducted in a thorough and methodical manner.
Quality Orientation Pays attention, is precise, checks, and completes things Focuses on getting things right and seeks to ensure that decisions and solutions minimise risk. Adheres to policy and standards.
Team Working Enjoys participating in group activities and likes to work with other people. Is ready to collaborate with and support others and is willing to cooperate and compromise for the overall good.
Service Delivery Focused Identifies and focuses on the individual needs and concerns of the customer or client. Engages and responds accordingly with a professional and high-quality service. Is committed to keeping people safe from harm.
Following Directions Is motivated to accept and comply with standards and instructions and delivers accurately on what is promised or expected. Works productively in co-operation with, and support of, others.
Interpersonal Sensitivity Has the ability to interact with others in a sensitive and effective way. Respects and works well with others. Is able to build and maintain healthy relationships that are mutually beneficial.
Job benefits
- A salary of £12.71 per hour (FTE £23,136 per annum)
- 26 days’ holiday (pro rata) plus paid statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata)
- Up to 2 days paid volunteer leave a year, through our employer supported volunteer scheme
- Ten weeks’ company sick pay following successful completion of probation
- A great pension scheme with employer contributions
- 2 x Base Salary Death in Service Benefit, subject to qualification
- Enhanced Family Leave schemes
- An employee benefits package that gives access to an exclusive rewards website to get discounts and cashback online
- A 24-hour doctor line, financial support with dental/optical and other therapies
- A free and confidential employee assistance programme with up to six face-to-face counselling sessions included
- Opportunities to discuss flexible working
- Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
- The chance to make a positive, lasting impact that changes lives, communities, and society
If you feel have the skills and experience to become our Retail Customer Assistant, please click ‘apply’ today, we’d love to hear from you!
This is the latest you'll be able to apply, providing we do not close to applicants early:
The closing date for this role is 2 December 2026. However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received. Please do not delay your application we often get a lot!
Inclusion, Equity and Sustainability
At Royal Voluntary Service, we are committed to embedding sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. This means reducing our environmental impact, creating equitable opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, represented, and able to thrive.
Disability Confident
As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to identifying and removing barriers that may prevent disabled people from participating fully in work and volunteering. We promote accessibility, provide reasonable adjustments and strive to create an environment where everyone can contribute with confidence.
When you indicate that you are applying for this role under disability confident scheme and can clearly evidence how you meet the essential criteria for the role, we commit to offering you an interview for the role.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all Disability Confident candidates who meet the essential criteria for the job. In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume of applications, seasonal and high-peak times, we may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.
In these circumstances we may need to select the disabled candidate(s) who best meet the overall essential criteria. Information for this can be drawn from other sources of information from your application such as your CV.
Join Royal Voluntary Service and together we can change lives, change communities and change society.
