Retail & Trading Apprentice
ST CATHERINE'S HOSPICE LIMITED
Crawley (RH10 1EG)
Closes in 14 days (Friday 18 September 2026)
Posted on 4 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Excited about sustainability and giving fashion a second life? We have an exciting opportunity to gain real work experience across a dynamic trading team, developing the skills needed for a future in Retail.
We are looking for enthusiasm, willingness and drive to learn, and a genuine interest in a customer focused career.
- Wage
-
£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Retailer (level 2)
- Hours
-
Shift times may vary to meet shop opening hours including some weekend working.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 17 November 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 8 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
• Undertake apprenticeship learning and attend mandatory apprenticeship lessons to be able to progress through the apprenticeship.
• Assist the Superstore Manager in overseeing the day-to-day operation of the shop. This will include supervision of the volunteers, pricing of stock and record keeping.
• Ensure that all donated goods are properly received into the shop and checked, sorted and priced as promptly as possible; ensuring that there is always a reserve of stock, to maximise sales.
• Promote Gift Aid donations by all donors.
• Ensure that all goods offered for sale conform to health and safety and trading standards requirements and reflect the interests of St. Catherine’s Hospice.
• Ensure that unsaleable goods are disposed of in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Flexibility / mobility to visit other shops.
• Comply with Health and Safety Regulations, always ensuring the safety of staff, volunteers and customers.
• Provide administrative support such as managing the trading email inboxes, electronic filing and supporting day-to-day office operations.
• Work collaboratively with immediate colleagues and members of other directorates.
• Accurately record appropriate information on our Gift Aid database.
• Assist with the management of our collection and delivery system.
• Provide practical and administrative support to our e-Commerce department.
• To understand and shadow all roles within the Trading team, to gain a complete understanding of the retail operation.
• Keep in touch with developments at St Catherine’s Hospice and in the charity retail sector by attending briefings, workshops etc organised by the Head of Trading or the Retail Operations Manager
• Comply with Hospice policies and training relating to confidentiality, equal opportunities, GDPR and security.
• Undertake any other duties considered to fall within the scope of the role.
Where you'll work
37-43 Queensway
Crawley
RH10 1EG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
REWARDS TRAINING RECRUITMENT CONSULTANCY LIMITED
Training course
Retailer (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Communicate with customers to meet their requirements and encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.
- Serve customers in line with brand standards, legislation, business procedures and the values of the business.
- Provide a retail service that balances the customers’ needs with additional linked products and services.
- Use face to face or online sales techniques such as product and price comparisons to support or influence the customer in their purchasing decisions.
- Promote seasonal or local offers through in-store or online promotions.
- Identify situations that may damage business reputation in line with company policy and escalate as required.
- Maintain good merchandising to meet the needs of the business whilst ensuring safety.
- Maintain stock levels and storage conditions such as correct temperature, lighting, ventilation, packaging to meet customer demand and minimise stock loss.
- Use technology and applications to support sales and service ensuring that maintenance issues are reported.
- Support team and colleague development through buddying and/or coaching.
- Comply with regulations and legislation relevant to their role and business.
- Contribute to continuous improvement activities which focus on improving sustainability within the business.
- Handle complaints within remit or escalate as appropriate.
- Support sales across a range of promotional events throughout the calendar year.
- Communicate with customers to meet their requirements and encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.
- Serve customers in line with brand standards, legislation, business procedures and the values of the business.
- Provide a retail service that balances the customers’ needs with additional linked products and services.
- Use face to face or online sales techniques such as product and price comparisons to support or influence the customer in their purchasing decisions.
- Promote seasonal or local offers through in-store or online promotions.
- Identify situations that may damage business reputation in line with company policy and escalate as required.
- Maintain good merchandising to meet the needs of the business whilst ensuring safety.
- Maintain stock levels and storage conditions such as correct temperature, lighting, ventilation, packaging to meet customer demand and minimise stock loss.
- Use technology and applications to support sales and service ensuring that maintenance issues are reported.
- Support team and colleague development through buddying and/or coaching.
- Comply with regulations and legislation relevant to their role and business.
- Contribute to continuous improvement activities which focus on improving sustainability within the business.
- Handle complaints within remit or escalate as appropriate.
- Support sales across a range of promotional events throughout the calendar year.
Training schedule
Delivered online with remote support from Rewards Training throughout the apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship is typically complete within 14 months.
More training information
In addition you will receive statutory and mandatory training for the role as well as learn from our charity retail experts.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- english (grade 4)
- maths (grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Number skills
- Team working
About this employer
St Catherine’s Hospice is a respected local charity providing specialist hospice care alongside statutory service partners (GPs, District nursing etc) across West Sussex and East Surrey.
We provide care in communities across Surrey and Sussex which are richly diverse and we want to reflect that in everything we do. We celebrate and support difference and welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you believe in the importance of what we do, share our values and want to be a part of an outstanding team building something important, we’d love to hear from you.
https://www.stch.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Annual leave 25 days plus Bank Holidays,
- Opportunity to buy / sell annual leave days.
- Day off for volunteering & moving house.
- Pension scheme with up to 9% employer contributions
- Life Assurance Scheme,
- Counselling Offering,
- Range of discounts.
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Retail Assistant
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
REWARDS TRAINING RECRUITMENT CONSULTANCY LIMITED
jobs@stch.org.uk
01293447333
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000051619.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Friday 18 September 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.