As a major retail business, there are many places to join us besides our stores, from the Merchandising team to the Finance department. Here’s what a few of our people have to say about what’s happening in their part of the business.
Commercial
Meeting the ever changing requirements of our customers drives us every day. Whether this is finding the latest outdoor product innovation, introducing new fashion orientated brands, or developing our own brand product ranges, we are constantly seeking to provide our customers with the best kit at the best value."
Group Commercial Director
Retail Operations
"Over the last 18 months retail at Blacks has changed dramatically. Having concentrated on the fundamentals of the business and ensured the foundations are in place we are now well positioned to concentrate on growth. We are setting new standards and leading the way in outdoor retail. Our new format stores demonstrate this, as does our investment in people through various management development programmes and a bonus scheme that is innovative and unrivalled in retail. With growth in mind we are always interested in individuals who have the attitude, hunger and talent to succeed."
Group Retail Director
E-Commerce, Telesales & Customer Services
"Today, the direct channels, telesales and online, equate to less than 2% of group sales. We have plans to dramatically increase this figure by recruiting the best people in multi-channel retailing, improving the customer experience through building new websites and enhancing our processes and systems. This is an exciting time for the multi-channel team."
E-Commerce Director
IT
“We’re responsible for ensuring the business has the best systems and applications at its disposal to help us in our aim to take the outdoor market by storm.”
IT Director
Marketing
"Everything we do is fuelled by our customers. Understanding their love of the great brands we sell and their passion for the outdoors helped us develop our radical new store concepts and underpins all our marketing activity, from forging strong links with the Glastonbury Festival to developing joint marketing campaigns with the brands."
Group Commercial Director
Finance
“We're a business going through dramatic change - which means big opportunities for those in finance. Retail is a fast-paced machine and it's our job to work in the most effective way to provide financial support at all ends of the business. You need to have a good head for figures, be able to use financial information in a commercial way and have the personality to work effectively and share your findings with the rest of the organisation."
Finance Director
HR
“Creativity and commercialism are the two must-haves for everyone working at Blacks Leisure Group plc. It’s our job to support Senior Management in the people strategy of their departments as well as providing support on more day to day matters. The past 12 months has been a period of change and we needed to recruit more talent into the business to support this change. Now we have the right individuals on board it is important to nuture that talent and ensure we are training up our future senior managers and equiping them with the skills to achieve their potential. Our Management Development Centres are key to the development of our high achieving employees. This programme exposes individuals to bespoke external and internal training and will provide us with the Directors of the future"
HR Director