M&S Training Places: 1,000 Young People To Get Retail Career Support

How The M&S Not Just Any Career Scheme Works

M&S is launching 1,000 training places for young people through a new scheme called Not Just Any Career. The programme is aimed at helping 18 to 24-year-olds build retail leadership skills, gain confidence and take a first step towards a long-term career, without needing a degree. Applications are due to open on 27th July, with places available across the UK and Ireland.

This is useful news for young people who are unsure what to do after school, college or an early job. University is not the right route for everyone, and many families are now looking more closely at paid work, apprenticeships, employer training and career paths that do not involve student debt. A large retailer offering structured training can give young people another option to consider.

The scheme also lands at a time when youth employment is a real concern. M&S says the programme responds to the challenge of young people who are not in employment, education or training. The press release points to recent findings that nearly 1 million 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK fall into that group, which is roughly 1 in 8 young people.

How The M&S Not Just Any Career Scheme Works

Not Just Any Career is a new M&S training scheme designed to help young people start and progress in retail. The programme will offer 1,000 places across stores in the UK and Ireland. It is open to both current M&S colleagues and external candidates.

The scheme is aimed specifically at 18 to 24-year-olds, including school leavers. M&S says applicants will not need a degree to take part, which makes the route more accessible to young people who want to earn, learn and progress through work. That matters because many entry-level career routes still feel built around graduates, even when the job itself does not always need a degree.

Participants will receive 6 months of training. The programme will focus on practical retail management skills, hands-on experience in stores and confidence-building. Successful participants may then be able to move on to further training towards becoming an M&S Store Manager.

Why This Could Matter For Young People

For many young people, the hard part is getting their first proper chance. A Saturday job, part-time retail role or early workplace experience can teach skills that are difficult to learn in a classroom. That can include speaking to customers, handling pressure, working in a team, managing time and taking responsibility.

M&S CEO Stuart Machin started his own retail career pushing trolleys at 16. In the press release, M&S links the new scheme to the idea that first jobs can change lives. That is not just a nice line from a business, because a first job can help a young person build confidence, references and work habits that follow them into later roles.

The useful part of this scheme is the leadership focus. This is not being presented as just a short placement or basic work experience. M&S says it is designed to get young people onto the first rung of the leadership ladder, with a possible route into store management.

Who Can Apply?

The scheme is aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds. M&S says both existing colleagues and external candidates can apply, from school leavers upwards. That means it could suit young people already working in retail, as well as those trying to get into work.

You do not need a degree to apply. That is one of the most important parts of the announcement, because it opens the door to people who may not want, need or be able to afford university. It also gives young people another way to build a career through practical experience.

Full details have not been released yet. M&S says more information on how to apply, who is eligible and where places are available will be announced in due course. For now, the key date to know is 27th July, when applications are due to open.

What Training Will Participants Get?

Participants will receive 6 months of training supported by M&S leaders and store colleagues. The training will be based in stores, which means young people should get practical experience rather than just classroom-style learning. That is important in retail, where confidence often comes from doing the job.

The focus will be on retail management skills. That could include learning how stores operate, how teams are managed and how customer-facing decisions are made. M&S has not yet published the full training content, so it is worth waiting for the application details before assuming exactly what will be covered.

What we do know is that M&S is positioning this as a career route, not just a short-term job. The company says successful participants may move on to further training to become a Store Manager. For someone who wants a career without a degree, that route could be worth serious consideration.

When Do Applications Open?

Applications for the M&S training places are due to open on 27th July. M&S says the 1,000 places will be made available over the next 18 months. Placements will be offered throughout the year on a rolling basis.

That rolling approach could be useful for young people who are not ready to apply immediately. It may mean there are opportunities at different points of the year, rather than one single deadline. It also gives families, schools, colleges and careers advisers time to watch for more information.

At the moment, M&S has not published the full list of locations or the final application process. The sensible step is to keep an eye on the M&S careers website and official M&S updates as the 27th July application date gets closer. Applicants should also start preparing a basic CV, even if the final process turns out to be online.

Why Retail Can Be A Useful Career Route

Retail sometimes gets dismissed as a temporary job, but that is not always fair. A retail role can teach practical skills quickly, especially in a busy store. Young workers can learn how to speak to customers, solve problems, manage stock, handle routines and work under pressure.

There can also be real progression in retail if the employer offers training. Store supervisors, department managers and store managers all need people skills, commercial awareness and the ability to keep things moving. Those are valuable skills in many other sectors too.

For young people who are unsure about university, a structured retail programme may be a useful bridge. It gives them a chance to earn experience, test whether management suits them and build confidence in a real workplace. It will not be the right route for everyone, but it is a route worth knowing about.

How This Fits With M&S’s Other Youth Work

M&S says Not Just Any Career sits alongside its long-running Marks & Start partnership with The King’s Trust. That partnership has supported more than 14,000 people into work over 20 years. The new scheme appears to build on that wider focus by creating a specific training route for young people in stores.

The press release also mentions a wider campaign involving His Majesty the King, Sir Gareth Southgate and M&S CEO Stuart Machin. M&S says this will include a new AI-powered digital platform with resources, mentoring, skills and real-world opportunities. That platform is expected to launch in early 2027.

For young people facing barriers to work, these routes could be useful if they lead to practical support rather than just advice. The key question will be how easy they are to access, where the placements are based and whether the training leads to meaningful progression. Those details should become clearer when M&S publishes more application information.

What Should Young People Do Now?

The first step is to note the 27th July application opening date. If this sounds relevant, start gathering basic information now. That includes your work history, school or college details, any volunteering, hobbies, responsibilities and examples of times you have worked with people.

You do not need a long CV to show potential. For an early-career scheme, employers often want to see attitude, reliability and willingness to learn. If you have helped in a family business, volunteered, cared for siblings, worked in a weekend job or taken responsibility at school, those examples can still matter.

It is also worth thinking about why retail appeals to you. You do not need to pretend it is your lifelong dream, but you should be able to explain why you want to learn, work with customers and build confidence. A simple, honest answer is usually better than a generic one.

Tips Before Applying

Before applications open, prepare a short CV that is clear and easy to read. Include your education, any work experience, volunteering, clubs, achievements and responsibilities. Keep it simple, because the point is to show that you are reliable, interested and ready to learn.

Think of 3 examples you could use in an application or interview. One could show teamwork, one could show problem-solving and one could show responsibility. These do not have to come from paid work, because school, sport, volunteering and family responsibilities can all provide useful examples.

It is also worth checking travel options before you apply. If places are store-based, you need to know which locations you can realistically get to. A good opportunity is less useful if the journey is too expensive or unreliable.

The new M&S training places could be a useful route for young people who want to build a career without going to university. The scheme will not suit everyone, and the full application details still need to be published. Even so, 1,000 places across the UK and Ireland is worth paying attention to, especially for school leavers and young workers who want a route into management.

For parents, carers and young people, this is one to watch before applications open on 27th July. Get a simple CV ready, think through examples of responsibility and keep an eye out for the location details. If the scheme is available nearby, it could be a practical first step into work, confidence and progression.

FAQ

What is the M&S Not Just Any Career scheme?

Not Just Any Career is a new M&S training scheme offering 1,000 places for young people across the UK and Ireland. It focuses on retail leadership, store experience and confidence-building.

Who is the M&S training scheme for?

The scheme is aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds, including school leavers. M&S says both current colleagues and external candidates can apply.

Do you need a degree for the M&S training places?

No, M&S says applicants do not need a degree. The scheme is designed to open career routes for young people who want to learn through work.

How long does the M&S training programme last?

The programme lasts 6 months. Participants will receive support from M&S leaders and store colleagues while building practical retail management skills.

When do applications open for the M&S scheme?

Applications are due to open on 27th July. M&S says placements will be made throughout the year on a rolling basis.

How many M&S training places are available?

M&S says 1,000 places will be available over the next 18 months. These will be across stores in the UK and Ireland.

Can school leavers apply?

Yes, M&S says the scheme is open from school leavers upwards. It is aimed at young people aged 18 to 24.

Could the scheme lead to a management job?

M&S says successful participants may move on to further training to become a Store Manager. That means the scheme is being presented as a possible route into retail leadership.

Where will the M&S training places be available?

M&S says places will be available across the UK and Ireland. Full details of locations have not yet been announced.

What should applicants do before 27th July?

Applicants can prepare a simple CV and think of examples that show teamwork, responsibility and willingness to learn. It is also worth checking which M&S stores are realistic to travel to once locations are announced.