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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Business
Alan Jones

UK retail giant to hire 1,000 Christmas workers in major recruitment drive

Currys is hiring around 1,000 temporary staff over the next few months. - (Getty Images)

Technology retail chain Currys is hiring around 1,000 temporary staff over the next few months.

The positions will be spread across its 296 stores in the UK and Ireland from October to the new year.

Last year, almost half of the company's Christmas staff were given permanent positions.

Caroline Hirst, Currys’ chief people officer, said: "Almost half of last year’s seasonal colleagues are still with us, and that tells you what a Christmas job at Currys can become."

Minister for employment Andrew Western said: “Christmas is always a busy time for retail, and Currys’ recruitment drive is great news for the 1,000 workers set to benefit from these new roles.

“We know how vital early work experience is to building a lasting career, which is why it’s fantastic to see almost half of last year’s seasonal workers offered permanent positions.

“We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity for young people, and this is underpinned by our £2.5 billion youth employment investment to create almost a million opportunities to earn or learn.”

Currys said last year almost half of the company's Christmas staff were given permanent positions. (PA Media)
Currys said last year almost half of the company's Christmas staff were given permanent positions. (PA Media)

The starting rates of pay are £12.71 per hour, and £13.96 per hour in London stores.

Earlier in September, the electricals chain revealed a jump in UK sales growth over the summer as World Cup fever and heatwaves helped offset a flagging wider market.

The group said UK and Ireland like-for-like sales growth jumped to 6% in the 17 weeks since its May 2 year-end, up from 3% in the previous six months.

New boss Fredrik Tonnesen, who took over from Alex Baldock on August 3, said the group outperformed a more difficult wider electronics market, which would have shrunk had it not been for demand spurred on by heatwaves and the World Cup in June and July.

Currys said earlier in the summer the World Cup had driven strong sales of “supersize” TVs, beer pumps and BBQs.

Retailers have also seen strong demand for fans and air conditioning units due to the searing hot weather since May.

Overall Currys group sales rose 7% in the first 17 weeks of its new financial year, with its Nordics arm seeing 9% growth.

Mr Tonnesen, who previously headed up the Currys Nordics business, said: “Currys has maintained its strong momentum.

“Across the group we saw growth in both stores and online, with new categories, business-to-business and services all growing strongly.

“In the UK and Ireland, we gained share in every category, in a market that was flat even with the help of the World Cup and summer heatwaves.”

The group said it was on track with full-year expectations for underlying pre-tax profits of £199 million, up from £191 million in 2025-26.

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