Marks & Spencer's Christmas store roles are still open on its official careers site as the festive hiring season reaches its peak. The retailer announced 11,000 seasonal colleagues in early October, with the first recruits joining from 25 October, and live listings show Christmas customer assistant roles still accepting applications. One verified example, a part-time temporary Christmas Customer Assistant in Food at Leeds Moortown, pays £13.41 an hour and closes on 31 October 2026, with the contract ending on 26 December 2026.

Hours and peak weeks

The roles are hands-on store jobs: serving customers, filling shelves, supporting deliveries and keeping food halls running during the busiest weeks of the year. M&S says successful applicants receive training and support to get up to speed quickly. Its retail director, Thinus Keeve, said Christmas is a busy, fast-moving and exciting time to join, and that what matters most is energy, curiosity and a commitment to doing the right thing for customers.

How to apply

Hours vary by store, so applicants should read the individual listing carefully. The Leeds listing, for example, sets Sunday and weekday daytime shifts, and warns that successful candidates may be asked to work up to full-time hours in the weeks beginning 13 and 20 December. Seasonal colleagues are also expected to be available across the final days before Christmas, when stores are at their busiest. Applications go through the official M&S jobs website, where candidates can search by location and role. No payment is required to apply, and anyone asked for a fee should treat that as a warning sign and apply only through the official site. Because closing dates differ by store — the Leeds example closes on 31 October — jobseekers should check the listing for their own area rather than assuming a national deadline.

Sources: M&S Careers (official), The Grocer.