Christmas Jobs in the UK 2026: Where and How to Apply

Published October 23, 2026 by Admin Staff

Christmas hiring is already well under way. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Argos, M&S, Boots, John Lewis and many others have opened applications for tens of thousands of seasonal roles, and some of the first starters begin this week. This guide lists who is hiring, what they pay, how the application process works, and how to improve your chances of getting a festive job, and possibly a permanent one afterwards.

Quick answer: Apply now. Major retailers are recruiting more than 70,000 seasonal workers between them, with pay from about £12.71 to over £16 an hour depending on the employer, role and location. Most retail roles need no experience, and applications are made directly on each employer’s careers site.

Why you should apply early

Seasonal recruitment starts in the autumn and many employers fill places on a rolling basis. Sainsbury’s and Argos opened their Christmas vacancies on 5 October, M&S began recruiting from 9 October with the first colleagues due to start from 25 October, and Tesco announced its drive on 12 October. Roles in popular locations can fill quickly, and interviews, checks and training take time. If you want to be working by mid-November, apply this week.

Who is hiring for Christmas 2026?

The figures below come from recent employer announcements and news reports. Pay varies by location, age and role, so always check the individual job advert.

Employer	Seasonal roles announced	Typical roles	Pay (where published)
Tesco	28,000+	Store customer assistants, home delivery pickers, some distribution centre picking	Check advert
Sainsbury’s and Argos	17,500	Store, warehouse, delivery driver and Argos customer adviser roles	In-store £13.23 to £14.54; Argos drivers £14.23 to £15.54; Sainsbury’s drivers £14.73 to £16.04
M&S	11,000	Customer assistants in food, clothing and gifting	£13.41
John Lewis Partnership	10,400+	Stores, distribution and customer support	Check advert
Boots	About 6,000	Stores, warehouses and customer support	Check advert
Currys	About 1,000	Seasonal retail colleagues	£12.71, or £13.96 in London
Poundland	1,000	Seasonal store roles	Check advert
Next	Autumn and winter campaign	Sales floor and stockroom	Varies by age, location and vacancy
Amazon	Seasonal hiring in some areas	Warehouse and delivery operations	Frontline pay advertised from £15.10 to £16.10, by location
Royal Mail	Reported plans for about 20,000	Mail centres, delivery	Check advert
Majestic	150	Wine retail	Check advert
Asda	Current seasonal vacancies, no national figure found	Stores	Check advert

Numbers are targets announced by the companies, not guaranteed vacancies in your area. Amazon’s seasonal roles are not available at every site.

Employer notes

Tesco. Tesco says no experience is needed, and roles are mainly in Superstores and Extra stores, serving customers or picking grocery home delivery orders. A smaller number of temporary picking jobs are in its distribution centres. Tesco has said some temporary staff may move into permanent roles after Christmas, subject to vacancies.

Sainsbury’s and Argos. Seasonal workers are on fixed-term contracts of four to 12 weeks. Perks include free food during shifts and a 10% colleague discount at both retailers, which rises to 15% at Sainsbury’s on Fridays and Saturdays. Applications are through the Sainsbury’s Christmas careers website.

M&S. The 11,000 roles are in stores across food, clothing and gifting departments, with training given on joining. For more on pay, benefits and the application process, read our guide to M&S jobs.

Boots. Boots says the jobs are open to people at all stages of their careers, including first-time jobseekers and younger workers, who make up around half of its seasonal hires.

John Lewis Partnership. It is recruiting more than 10,400 seasonal roles and stresses that they are not only for Christmas.

Use each employer’s official careers site, not a link from social media or a message, to apply. See the scam warning below.

Types of Christmas jobs

Shop floor and customer assistants: helping customers, replenishing shelves, working on tills and keeping stores tidy.
Online order pickers: collecting grocery or retail orders for delivery or collection.
Warehouse and distribution operatives: picking, packing and loading. This work is physical and often on shifts.
Delivery drivers: you may need a full driving licence, and sometimes a minimum period of driving experience.
Mail and parcel handlers: sorting and delivering in the run-up to Christmas.
Hospitality and events: bars, restaurants, hotels and Christmas markets.
Cleaning and support roles: extra cleaners and housekeeping staff. See our guide to cleaning jobs in the UK.
Airports and transport: extra staff for busy travel periods, though these need security vetting. See our guide to how to get an airport job in the UK.

You can browse current vacancies on our UK jobs board.

How much do Christmas jobs pay?

Pay depends on the employer, role, location and your age. Examples from 2026 announcements range from £12.71 to £16.04 an hour, with driving and warehouse roles often paying more than shop floor jobs.

The legal minimum is set by age. From April 2026 it is £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 for ages 18 to 20 and £8.00 for under-18s. Some employers pay one rate to all ages, others pay by age, so check the advert. See our National Minimum Wage 2026 guide for the full rates.

Also compare the extras: staff discount, free food during shifts, paid breaks, overtime or premium pay for evenings and weekends, and whether holiday pay is paid as you go.

How to apply: step by step

Choose employers near you. Think about travel costs and times, because shifts may start early or finish late and public transport can be limited over the festive period.
Prepare a simple CV. Many seasonal applications are online forms, but some ask for a CV. If you have never worked, read our guide to writing a UK CV with no experience.
Check your availability. Most employers want weekends, evenings and the weeks around 20 to 24 December, and often Boxing Day and the January sales. Be honest and specific about what you can do.
Gather your documents. You will need proof of your right to work, ID and your National Insurance number if you have one.
Apply on the official careers site. Fill in every section carefully. Most large retailers use online assessments with scenarios about customer service and teamwork.
Apply to more than one employer. You can apply to several, then decide if you get more than one offer.
Check your email and phone. Interview invitations are often sent by email or text, and slots can fill fast. Check your spam folder.
Prepare for the interview. Read our guide to customer assistant interview questions and answers.
Read the contract. Check pay, hours, start and end dates and holiday. Our guide to understanding your employment contract helps.

Tips to stand out from the crowd

Show flexibility. Employers look for people who can cover busy times and last-minute changes.
Mention any customer service experience, including volunteering, school events and family businesses.
Be reliable. Say that you have a good attendance record, and mean it.
Show you want to stay. Tesco, M&S and others say seasonal staff can move into permanent roles. If you want that, say so at interview and ask what happens after Christmas.
Be positive and friendly. Seasonal staff are hired mostly on attitude.

Your rights as a seasonal worker

A temporary job is still a proper job, and you have rights from your first day:

Pay. You must receive at least the minimum wage for your age, and a payslip.
Holiday. You build up paid holiday while you work, and unused holiday should be paid at the end of your contract.
Sick pay. Since April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is payable from the first day of sickness if you qualify. See our guide to the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Rest breaks and safe working. You are entitled to breaks and a safe workplace, with training for tasks like manual handling.
Fixed-term contracts. If your contract is fixed-term, it will end on a set date. Check the end date and any chance of extension. For more on notice, see our guide to notice periods in the UK.

Tax and benefits

Tax code. If you start a temporary job, your employer may put you on an emergency tax code until HMRC gets your details. If you think you are paying too much tax, check your payslip and contact HMRC, and you may be able to get a refund.
Students and young workers. Most people can earn up to the personal allowance (£12,570 for 2026 to 2027) in a tax year before paying Income Tax, but your tax code and other income matter.
Benefits. If you claim Universal Credit or other benefits, tell the Department for Work and Pensions about your new job and earnings, as they may change your payments.

Beware of Christmas job scams

The festive rush attracts scammers, because many people are applying quickly. Watch for:

Adverts asking you to pay for a uniform, training, a background check or “registration”
Job offers made only through WhatsApp, Telegram or text
Unexpected offers with no interview, and very high pay for simple work
Requests for your passport or bank details before you have a job offer
“Package reshipping” or “money transfer” roles, which can involve criminal activity

Always apply through the employer’s official website, not through a link in a message. Read our full guide to how to spot a fake job advert in the UK.

Can a Christmas job turn into a permanent one?

Sometimes. Employers including Tesco and John Lewis have said some seasonal staff may be offered permanent roles after Christmas, depending on vacancies. To improve your chances:

Tell your manager early that you are interested in staying
Learn more than one area of the shop or warehouse
Take on extra shifts when offered
Ask what permanent roles are coming up in January
Keep a record of good feedback and attendance, which you can use in your next application

If you are not kept on, you will still have recent UK work experience, a reference and new skills for your CV.

Frequently asked questions

Is it too late to apply for Christmas jobs in 2026? No, but do not wait. Many roles are open now, and some employers will keep recruiting into November. Popular roles and locations fill early.

Which companies hire the most Christmas staff? Tesco (28,000+), Sainsbury’s and Argos (17,500), M&S (11,000) and John Lewis (10,400+) have announced the largest drives, along with Boots, Royal Mail and Amazon.

Do I need experience to get a Christmas job? Not for most retail roles. Tesco has said no experience is necessary, and Boots says first-time jobseekers are welcome. A friendly, reliable attitude matters most.

How much do Christmas jobs pay? Examples this year range from £12.71 to about £16 an hour, depending on the employer, role and your age.

How long do seasonal contracts last? It varies. Sainsbury’s and Argos use fixed-term contracts of four to 12 weeks, for example. Check the advert.

Can under-18s apply? Some employers hire at 16 or 17, and some set a higher minimum age, especially for warehouse and driving roles. Check each advert.

Will I have to work Christmas Day? Most shops are closed on Christmas Day, but you may be asked to work Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and the sales. Read the shift pattern carefully before you accept.

Final thoughts

Christmas jobs are one of the easiest ways to start work in the UK, earn extra money or get a foot in the door with a big employer. Apply early, apply to more than one place, stay safe from scams and make it clear that you are keen. Browse the latest roles on our jobs board and then apply directly through each employer’s careers site.

This article is general information. Recruitment numbers, pay rates and start dates come from recent employer announcements and news reports and may change. Always check the job advert and the employer’s official careers page for the latest details.