Central England Co-Operative Careers

You are here: Home > Applying for a Job
We’ve made it as easy as possible for you to stay up-to-date with all the latest career opportunities at Central England Co-operative. We post all of our current vacancies on this site and add new ones nearly every day, so it’s worth checking in with us regularly to see if we’ve got the right role for you. Take a look at the roles currently available, or use our career search page to narrow things down. Also, take a look at our Future Sites page where you can quickly see if we’re opening a site near you soon and register your interest in applying for a role when we’re ready to recruit.

The Recruitment Process

For all roles you’ll need to fill in an application profile online. You can do this by clicking ‘apply’ for the role you’re interested in and completing the form there and then before submitting your application. Or you can register and build your application profile in advance. It’s well worth doing this – it means that you can take your time to ensure your profile shows off your skills, experience and personality to the full. And you don’t need to do it all in one go. Once you’ve registered with a user name and password, you can save your profile and return to it at any time to update your details or complete the sections. Then, when you find a vacancy that’s right for you, you can apply for the role quickly and easily because you’ve already written and saved the information we’ll need from you. And we’ll help out by sending you regular Job Alerts.

Once you’ve applied for a role with us...

Once you’ve applied for a role with us, you’ll receive an automated email telling you that we’ve received your application.  We’ll advise you by email of the outcome of your application and if we do want to get to know you better then we’ll invite you to attend either an assessment centre or a one-to-one interview. 

We do like to keep things as straightforward for you...

We do like to keep things straightforward for you, but depending on the role you’ve applied for we may ask you to complete some tests to show us your abilities – we’ll let you know in advance if that’s going to be the case. These might include numerical and verbal tests, IT skills testing, role plays, group or individual exercises or giving a presentation. It’s all because we only ever recruit based on your ability to do the job, and nothing else. So you’ll also get the chance to shine during your competency-based personal interview where it will be all about your personality and commitment to working the co-operative way. This is your chance to really impress us, so make the most of it!

Before you leave...

Before you leave we’ll let you know when you can expect to hear from us about whether or not you’ve been successful. If you’re not successful we’ll be pleased to offer you some constructive feedback discussing your strengths and any areas for development that may help you in the future if you request it.

Preparing for your Interview

If we’ve asked you to come along to an assessment centre or interview, don’t leave it until the last minute to get prepared! Whatever role you’re applying for, we’ll expect you to have learned a bit more about what we do, who our customers are and what businesses we have. We’ll also expect you to have thought carefully about the job description, and how your skills and experience will meet our needs.


At the assessment or interview itself we’ll want to get to know more about you, so be ready to answer detailed questions about anything you’ve included on your CV or application. We’ll also ask you why you want to join our Society and how you’d like to progress your career with us. What we’ll be looking for above all are your ‘core competencies’ to help us both decide whether a role with us would be the right move for you.

The main competencies we look
for in all of our colleagues are:

  • Passion for the brand
  • Teamwork
  • Customer focus
  • Drive for results

If you’re applying for a management role we’ll also look for:

  • Building performance
  • Leadership

And if it’s a senior management role, as well as all the above you’ll need to show:

  • Influence, Impact and Challenge
  • Commitment and Accountability

If we need you to undertake any psychometric tests or to prepare a presentation, we’ll let you know in advance.

Other interview preparation tips:

  • Make sure you know the location of the interview and how you’re going to get there
  • Get everything you need ready the day before, such as what you’ll wear and anything we’ve asked you to bring with you
  • We’re required by the Home Office to check that you’re eligible to work in the UK so we’ll need to see your passport and/or visa and/or birth certificate plus proof of your National Insurance number
  • Try to arrive at least 10 minutes early to give you time to gather your thoughts. If you’re going to be late, contact the number on your interview invitation as soon as possible
  • Above all, relax, feel confident and be yourself! After all, we want to see the individual that is you!


Search our Careers Register & Build your CV
Build your CV

Give your job search a head start – register online and start building your CV Profile so you’ll be ready to apply when the right role crops up

Apprenticeships

Register your interest in one of our varied Apprenticeship Schemes here. Our Apprenticeships are open to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Latest Vacancies
Customer Services Assistant
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest and most successful independent co-operatives in the UK, with gross sales in excess of £1bn and over 8,800 colleagues operating across 16 counties, from the heart of England to its eastern shores. Our col
Customer Services Assistant
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest and most successful independent co-operatives in the UK, with gross sales in excess of £1bn and over 8,800 colleagues operating across 16 counties, from the heart of England to its eastern shores. Our c
Customer Services Assistant
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest and most successful independent co-operatives in the UK, with gross sales in excess of £1bn and over 8,800 colleagues operating across 16 counties, from the heart of England to its eastern shores. Our c
Store Manager
Central England Co-operative are currently recruiting for a Store Manager. The successful applicant will be focused on growing the business, delivering excellent customer service and operational standards as well as focusing on cost saving initiatives
Team Leader - Flexible Hours
**Hours - stated above (although wherever possible we will try to offer flexibility in the number of hours worked in this role, considering options such as job shares)** Central England Co-operative is one of the largest and most successful independent
Store Manager
Central England Co-operative are currently recruiting for a Store Manager. The successful applicant will be focused on growing the business, delivering excellent customer service and operational standards as well as focusing on cost saving initiatives
Central England Co-operative Website | Terms and Conditions

Central England Co-operative Limited is a Registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registered number 10143R.



© Central England Co-operative 2018