Gen: Ambition - Ceira's story

Ceira shares her journey on the Buying & Merchandising programme at M&S. She tells us about the mentoring and development programmes available to her and the skills that are helping her on her Level 4 Apprenticeship.

230628_M&S_4275.jpg

This was my first job after college. When I started, I was a bit nervous, but I was paired with this great buddy – a colleague who took me through everything, answered all my questions and showed me how things were done. Then one day she said she was moving on, and I wasn’t sure how I’d manage without her. But my team believed in me more than I did.

And the thing is, I was fine. I knew more than I thought I did and suddenly I felt in control. I’d be organising a ‘fit session’ where we try out new shoe lines with live models, and I was at the centre of it, chasing samples from overseas suppliers and arranging everything for the meeting. Almost without noticing, I had developed skills in planning, communication and organisation – and these definitely hadn’t been strengths for me before.

I think this is how it works at Marks & Spencer: there are experiences and challenges that keep taking you out of your comfort zone, but there is a great support network. If you’re ever worried about something, you can talk about it openly and your colleagues will help.

Now I’m working in Merchandising for babywear and the focus is much more on the figures. We are using all kinds of systems and tools to show how things are selling now – and predict how they might sell in the future. It’s a different way of looking at the business from Buying, but you really need both perspectives to make the business work.

Meanwhile, M&S is supporting my apprenticeship for a Level 4 Diploma at the Fashion Retail Academy. Every fortnight, I can take a study leave day where I can further my learning by visiting an exhibition or working on my assignments. My current assignment is to create a new babywear range, so it uses pretty much everything I’ve learnt about Buying and Merchandising. And if there is anything I don’t know, I have plenty of colleagues to ask and who are happy to help.

I came to Marks & Spencer because I was passionate about fashion, and I needed a way in. Now, I want to build my career here and see just how far I can go.

Learn more about the Buying & Merchandising Apprentceship Programme here

Share this story

More Stories

Work Photo 1.jpg
  • #Supply Chain & Logistic 
  • #Inclusion & Diversity

“Being myself at work has made all the difference” - Simon’s story

Ahead of National Coming Out Day we spoke to Simon Royston, an Inventory Planner in our Supply Chain and Logistics team, about his coming out journey, his career in retail and data, and what it feels like to work at M&S.

Main.jpeg
  • #In Store 
  • #Early Careers 
  • #Career Development

From Christmas colleague to future Store Manager

We spoke to Retail Graduate, Oliver Heath about how a fixed-term festive job at M&S led to big career plans, and why he thinks starting as a temporary Customer Assistant is a great way to get your foot in the door.

230627_M&S_2496.jpg
  • #Food 
  • #Early Careers 
  • #Career Development

Gen: Impact - Xav’s story

Thinking about applying to the Commercial pathway of the M&S Food Business Graduate Programme? Xavier shares his experience of the rotations, the culture, and the challenges that have shaped his career so far, plus the advice he’d give to anyone considering taking the leap.

Follow us on Instagram

Skip to social feed