Age UK has an exciting opportunity to join their fantastic team in Houghton Regis!
We are recruiting for a Shop Manager to manage the day to day running of our Houghton Regis store (Bedfordshire, LU5).
As Shop Manager, you will manage our brilliant team of staff and volunteers, providing effective leadership, training, and development.
Utilising your previous experience and excellent managerial skills, you will help maximise store sales and profits while ensuring our customers and donors receive an excellent shop experience.
This opportunity offers an excellent benefits package as well as the chance to work within a valued team, all working to raise funds for a charity that provides vital services and support to older people across the UK.
If you have a passion for retail and would like to use your skills within a charity that supports thousands of older people across the UK, then this may be the role for you!
Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to handle/lift bags of stock (up to 10kgs.)
To ensure the smooth running of our stores, we will be conducting interviews throughout the advertising process. Early applications are advised.
You will have:
- Experience in a performance driven retail/customer centric environment
- Experience of managing people
- Ability to lift and carry bags of stock up to 10kg's
- Ability to build, retain and develop a team
- Strong drive to achieve results through others
- Ability to delegate, coach and listen
- Ability to manage time under conflicting priorities
- Ability to motivate self and others
- An open and adaptable approach to change and be able to support others through it
- Experience of communicating with a diverse workforce and customer base
- Ability to establish and maintain successful retail processes and merchandising
- IT literacy and numeracy skills
What we offer in return:
- Competitive salary, 25 days annual leave (pro rata for our part-time colleagues) + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
- Wellbeing days - 2 paid days per year (pro rata for our part-time colleagues)
- Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, Bupa health cashback plan and EAP
- Car Benefit scheme, Cycle to Work scheme
- Home & Tech - apply to buy any Home & Tech items from 'Currys' & 'IKEA', up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free.
- Blue Light Card scheme
- You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.
Additional Information
To comply with UK legislation, we cannot accept applications from candidates under the age of 18 as the successful candidate will be required to work on their own in the shop without the aid of other staff.
Supporting statements and anonymisation
Please submit a Word version of your CV as it will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role. Our system is unable to anonymise supporting statements and heavily formatted CVs. Please could you remove any personal information including your name before you upload to support our inclusive recruitment process. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us if invited for interview.
Equal opportunities & Disability Confident Scheme
Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please note that on occasion, due to high numbers of applications, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Is this the job for you? We know that men, of all backgrounds, and men and women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are currently under-represented in our workforce, and we want to change this! So, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants from these groups.
Reasonable adjustments
Disabled job seekers can access reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the disabled job seeker to best meet their needs, by contacting the Recruitment Team. Disability disclosures will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know basis to support the implementation of adjustments. Disclosures will not be used to inform hiring decisions.
Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Access Interns Programme, a partnership between The Kartik Foundation and Variety, provides disabled young people with meaningful corporate internship opportunities to support their career aspirations. For many disabled young people, accessing work experience can be challenging due to societal barriers, lack of support, and limited opportunities. Access Interns is designed to break down these barriers, ensuring that participants gain valuable work experience, professional skills, and industry connections to help them succeed in their chosen careers.
The Access Interns Programme Manager is responsible for the successful delivery of the ACCESS INTERNS programme, overseeing the internship placement process, employer engagement, and student support. This includes managing the selection process, coordinating placements, ensuring workplace accessibility, and tracking the programme’s impact.
The role also involves working closely with corporate employers to create inclusive work environments, supporting interns throughout their placements, and expanding engagement with schools, employers, and industry leaders to ensure disabled young people have equal access to high-quality career opportunities.
ABOUT VARIETY
In the UK, there are more than 1.3 million disabled children and over 4 million children living in poverty. Variety exists to improve their lives. We believe every child has a right to live their best life and reach their full potential, whoever they are. We fund and deliver life-changing programmes that enhance their quality of life and give children and young people across the UK a better future.
Over the past 75 years we have supported over one million children by funding almost 6,000 Sunshine Coaches, almost the same number of wheelchairs, and giving thousands of grants to individual children, schools, youth clubs and other organisations for specialist equipment.
In addition, each year thousands of children take part in day trips, special events and educational activities as part of our Variety Great Days Out programme and every single day we are improving more young lives. We do it with practical, tangible help, that makes a real and immediate difference.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Programme Management
· Managing the Access Interns Programme, ensuring it is delivered to a high standard and in line with Variety’s policies and procedures
· Working with the Chief Executive Officer to set annual internship placement targets, manage the Access Interns budget and develop the Access Interns Programme.
· Overseeing the end-to-end process of the programme, from student recruitment and employer engagement to placement coordination and post-internship evaluation.
· Adhering to Variety’s Safeguarding policies and procedures and working with the Head of Programmes, by recognising that interns are vulnerable adults, and taking responsibility for their safety, welfare, and well-being throughout the programme.
· Identifying opportunities to expand and enhance the programme, ensuring it remains impactful, sustainable, and aligned with Variety’s strategic goals.
· Developing guidance materials, training sessions, and workshops to prepare students for internships and support their professional growth
· Working with the Programme’s team to input & manage programme data and reporting.
· Tracking and reporting on Programme Impact and analysing data to ensure continuous improvement.
Logistics and Coordination
· Coordinating interview schedule, employer meeting, and onboarding sessions to facilitate successful placements.
· Managing communication with interns, employers, schools, and other stakeholders, ensuring all parties are well-informed and supported.
· Organising online disability awareness training for corporate employers as part of the onboarding process, ensuring employers understand best practices for supporting disabled interns and creating accessible workplaces.
· Ensuring all necessary documentation, contracts and agreements are completed and maintained in line with Variety’s Policies and Compliance standards.
Budget and Income Generation
· Managing the Access Interns Programme budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and cost control.
· Generating income from the programme, including securing corporate partnerships and funding opportunities to sustain and expand Access Interns.
· Working closely with the fundraising team to assist in converting Access Intern partners into Corporate Donors for Variety’s wider work.
· Working with the Chief Executive Officer to set financial targets and explore additional funding streams.
· Monitoring expenditure, tracking income, and providing financial reports on programme performance.
Student Outreach & Support
· Manage the application and selection process, ensuring fair and transparent recruitment.
· Working closely with students to support their career development, including
- CV writing and cover letter workshops
- Interview preparation sessions
- Professional skills training (e.g. workplace etiquette, communication skills, and confidence-building)
- One-on-one mentoring and guidance
· Provide guidance and support to interns throughout their journey, from pre-placement preparation to post-internship follow-up.
· Responsible for marketing to schools and colleges to increase awareness and participation.
· Ensuring students understand their rights and workplace accommodations, advocating for inclusive and accessible internships.
· Visiting schools and colleges to promote the programme, engage with students, and increase participation from disabled young people.
Employer Outreach & Support
· Building and maintaining strong relationships with corporate employers to ensure a positive and productive experience for employers participating in the programme.
· Acting as the primary point of contact for employers, providing guidance and support throughout the internship process.
· Working with employers to develop meaningful internship opportunities, ensuring placements align with both business needs and student development goals
· Addressing any challenges or concerns that arise during placements, acting as a mediator where necessary.
· Delivering pre-placement briefings for employers, setting expectations and promoting inclusive hiring practices
· Gathering feedback from employers to continuously refine and improve the programme.
Customer Service and Administration
· Working with Operations Team and external partners to devise and deploy scalable on-boarding and internship management systems.
· Providing excellent customer service to applicants and prospective applicants, giving advice and guidance over the phone, in person and via email.
· Collecting and collating impact and monitoring data.
· Providing administrative support for other Programmes depending on workload, capacity and department demand.
Other Duties and Partner Support
· Assisting with events, reporting, and stakeholder engagement related to Variety’s wider mission and partner organisations.
· Collaborating with internal and external teams to support strategic initiatives that align with the goals of the Access Interns Programme.
General Responsibilities
· Negotiate placements and work collaboratively with employers to ensure meaningful learning experiences for interns.
· Applying knowledge of disabilities, relevant laws (e.g. Equality Act 2010), and reasonable adjustments to ensure that both interns and employers receive the necessary support for a successful and inclusive internship experience
· Expand the programme’s employer network, targeting organisations in corporate sectors to enhance placement opportunities.
· To work cross functionally with other departments, regions and countries.
· To achieve the highest standards of safeguarding for the young people who complete a corporate internship by Variety by complying with all appropriate Policies and Procedures.
· Working within Variety’s Data Protection policies at all times.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Essential:
-
Proven experience in managing programmes or projects, including planning, delivery, and evaluation.
-
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders (e.g., employers, schools, students).
-
Knowledge of disability rights, accessibility requirements, and the Equality Act 2010.
-
Understanding of safeguarding principles and experience working with vulnerable adults or young people
-
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and persuasively.
-
Strong ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities effectively.
-
Competence in collecting, analysing, and reporting data to measure impact and inform improvements.
-
Confident using Microsoft Office and CRM or database systems.
Desirable:
-
Delivering or coordinating training sessions for employers or staff.
-
Experience managing budgets, monitoring expenditure, and reporting on financial performance.
-
Familiarity with employability skills training, CV writing, and interview preparation.
-
Experience organising workshops, meetings, or onboarding sessions.
-
Ability to promote programmes to schools, colleges, and employers.
-
Using impact data to drive continuous improvement.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your CV with a cover letter explaining why you’d make a great candidate for this role. Applications will close on Friday 9th January 2026 at 5pm with interviews taking place week commencing 12th and 19 January 2026.
Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements or need any adjustments for the interview.
MAIN BENEFITS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Location: Variety HQ, Camden Town, London (hybrid working, 3 days in the office per week)
Hours: 9am to 5pm
25 days holiday (we also normally give between Christmas and New Year off, but this is not contractual). In addition, after one year's continuous service, there will be an extra 2 days annual holiday for every complete year of service, up to a maximum of five days' extra holiday.
Pension 7% ER contribution, Life Assurance 4x annual salary, Company sick pay scheme, medicash benefit.
EQUALITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Inclusion is one of our key values and it is our ambition to recruit great people from diverse communities. We welcome and encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment/identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy/maternity and or marriage/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.