Employer profile: Tesco, the UK's largest food retailer
What it’s like to work at the UK's largest supermarket
In this guide, you’ll learn all about working at Tesco, what opportunities are available, and how to apply.
Tesco at a glance:
| Founded | 1919 |
| Locations | Multinational |
| Employees | Over 330,000 |
| Career sectors | Retail and sales Fashion Product design and engineering Marketing Computers Distribution Food and drink Logistics Finance Maintenance |
| Post-school pathways options |
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What does Tesco do?
Tesco provides people with affordable, healthy, and sustainable food.
Our commitment to our customers extends beyond our stores and into every local community we serve (including the UK, Republic of Ireland (ROI), Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary). We provide extra support to those who need it through food banks, donation schemes, and community grants.
At the heart of Tesco is our team of more than 330,000 colleagues. We work hard to be an inclusive workplace, where we can all be our best and build the skills to grow our careers.
The Tesco Group also includes Tesco Bank; Tesco Mobile; One Stop convenience stores; Booker, the UK’s leading wholesale business; and our data-science business, Dunnhumby.
Across the group our core purpose remains: serving our customers, communities, and planet a little better every day.
Where is Tesco based?
We have over 3,712 stores across the UK and 19 distribution centres, where our colleagues work quickly and accurately to to keep our stores supplied with the right stock at the right time.
Our Head Office Campus is based in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, a 20-minute train journey from London.
What are some of the most common entry-level roles at Tesco?
Our Stronger Starts Retail Apprenticeship is a great opportunity for you to learn about all areas of retail. You'll develop new skills, build your confidence, and gain experience in different areas of the store. It takes at least 12 months, and you’ll spend your time doing a range of activities, from completing learning on a tablet device (which will be yours to keep upon completion), to putting it into practice on the shop floor.
Once you've completed the programme, you'll be awarded a Level 2 National Standard in Retail, equivalent to 5 GCSE passes. You’ll then have the chance to develop further and become a shift leader.
As a Maintenance Apprentice, you’ll help to make sure everything is working for customers and colleagues, from checkouts to chillers and heating. It’s a great opportunity for someone with strong problem-solving skills to kickstart their career. You’ll receive hands-on training and mentorship, as well as the chance to become a qualified electrician, mechanic, gas expert, or HVAC engineer.
As part of the apprenticeships, you may need to achieve qualifications in maths and English called ‘Functional Skills’. These qualifications are equivalent to holding GCSEs in those subjects. But if you’ve already achieved them at grade C/4 or above, you won’t need to complete them.
What are the entry requirements for these roles?
For our Stronger Starts Apprenticeship, we particularly want to hear from school leavers between 16 and 18. You don’t need to have GCSEs or any previous experience, but you will need to fulfil some other criteria, like being a citizen of the UK or a country within the EEA.
To apply for our Maintenance Apprenticeship, you’ll need a full driving licence, grades A-C in GCSE maths and English (or an equivalent level 2 qualification), and some experience with Office 365.
What are some jobs at Tesco that you might not expect?
Although many people are familiar with our stores, our opportunities extend beyond the shop floor. You could be involved in developing Christmas decorations for the largest Tesco Extra in Newcastle, shooting the latest Food Love Story TV ad, or even planning a PR stunt for Halloween.
If you join our Property team, you may be responsible for sourcing and building a store. Or if you join our technology team, you’ll help us to solve everyday problems on a global scale, like designing innovative software and systems, or helping make sure our cyber security is strong.
We also have food technologists, who analyse food trends and develop new products, and fashion designers who are responsible for sourcing sustainable products from across the world.
What skills does Tesco look for in applicants?
For our Stronger Starts apprentices, we look for people who have good teamwork, time management, and communication skills. We also look for people who are well presented and flexible, as you may be asked to work shifts and weekends.
For our Maintenance apprentices, we look for people with strong problem-solving, innovation, and communication skills.
We assess your skills and potential through a three-stage process: a basic online application, an AI interview, and a competency-based interview.
What work experience opportunities are there at Tesco?
We offer up to five days’ unpaid work experience for young people who are in full-time education, aged between 14 and 18 years old.
All work experience requests are arranged between the student or their school, and the store. For more details on how to apply for work experience, read the guide below.
Please email resourcing.team@tesco.com, with details around the store and dates you’d like to work at a Tesco store (which you can find at tesco.com/store-locator).