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Autumn is a great time for job searching. After a summer of sunshine and holidays, many people return to work refreshed and ready to tackle their goals, and companies often ramp up their hiring.
Seasonal jobs for winter also start to appear in autumn, so if you’re seeking flexible work over the festive months, now’s the time to get ahead of the rush.
However, the trickiest part of any new job search can be deciding where to begin. For over-50s, this means finding organisations that value your years of professional and life experience.
With this in mind, we’ve highlighted 11 age-diverse employers hiring this autumn. Whether you’re looking to make a career change, return to work after a break, or take the next step in your career, hopefully you’ll find some inspiration here.
1. Jollyes Pets
Good news for animal lovers: Jollyes Pets are hiring across their 100+ UK pet supply stores this autumn. Roles range from by-the-hour sales assistants to full-time store managers.
As well as store-based jobs, you can look out for vacancies in the Jollyes Pets support team, including departments like IT, buying, marketing, and finance. They’re headquartered in Essex, but hybrid working is available where roles allow.
Still on the fence? Jollyes Pets was named one of the ‘Best Places to Work’ by the Sunday Times in 2024 – and their 4.8-star Trustpilot rating reflects a clear passion for helping pets and their parents.
2. Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK are the world’s leading independent cancer charity. They save lives by raising money, funding research, influencing policy, spreading information, and more.
To make this happen, CRUK employ passionate people in various positions throughout the UK alongside dedicated volunteers. Joining such an important organisation could be a great way to foster purpose and fulfilment in your working life.
Many of CRUK’s autumn openings are in their shops, selling pre-loved items to support their groundbreaking work. Roles range from store assistants to managers, so whatever level of responsibility you’re looking for (and however much experience you have), hopefully, you’ll find an exciting opportunity nearby.
3. Oxford Aunts
Live-in care specialists Oxford Aunts have been helping people stay in the homes they love since 1967. Catering to those in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, they provide live-in and domiciliary care for elderly people, giving them the best quality of life possible.
Oxford Aunts offer two types of roles: live-in carers and domiciliary care assistants. Both involve comprehensive induction training, ongoing professional development, and flexible working options – allowing you to choose when you work.
Dot (75), an Oxford Aunts carer, says, “I have had very enriching experiences working for Oxford Aunts and met some wonderful people whilst still having the opportunity to travel and follow my interests. Had I still been in a desk job, these things would never have come my way. For all of them, I feel privileged and grateful.”
4. Butlin’s
Millions of people across the UK look back fondly on time spent at a Butlin’s seaside resort – and this autumn, you can start helping a new generation of holidaymakers create treasured memories of their own.
Butlin’s are hiring for sociable, forward-facing roles at their seaside resorts in Minehead, Skegness, and Bognor Regis. These include everything from chefs and cleaners to handypeople and sports coaches. You can jump straight into many of these jobs and learn as you go, making them ideal for later-life career changers.
Or, if you’d prefer to stay behind the scenes, look out for openings in their support team based in Hemel Hempstead.
5. Toyota & Lexus
For many, working with cars is a dream come true. Luckily, it’s never too late to step into the automotive industry, whether you want to apply your skills to a fresh sector or learn new ones.
Across their 250 franchised retailers in the UK, Toyota & Lexus offer opportunities in sales, customer service, marketing, technical roles, and support functions.
They also provide entry-level technician apprenticeships throughout the UK. While often associated with young people starting careers, apprenticeships are also great for later-life career changers, as there’s no upper age limit.
6. Hachette UK
If you’re a literature lover, you could see what opportunities are available at Hachette UK. They’re one of Britain’s biggest publishing houses, with roles across IT, operations, editorial, marketing, and more – all working to get amazing books into readers’ hands.
You don’t need experience in the publishing industry to join the Hachette UK team. Alongside entry-level roles (for example, in their distribution warehouses), there are also chances to bring transferable skills from other careers.
For example, if you have a teaching background, why not explore what’s available in their education department, Hachette Learning? Or perhaps you could apply your web development or customer service expertise to the world of books?
7. Cygnet
As a leading provider of health and social care services, Cygnet’s work ranges from supporting people with physical challenges to mental health rehabilitation and recovery. So, if you’re interested in a rewarding role where you can have a positive social impact, it’s worth exploring what jobs are available.
Cygnet’s services are varied, meaning there are many ways to join their team. Roles range from cooks and maintenance workers to English teachers and occupational therapists.
Deborah (56), who joined Cygnet as an office admin manager after years in the automotive industry, said, “Knowing that every part of my work here contributes to the service user. This was my main focus when looking for a new role. I wanted to do a job that, in a small way, can help people.”
Read Deborah’s full interview to find out more about working for Cygnet.
8. Co-op
You might know the Co-op as the grocer around the corner, but they’re more than just a food-seller. From funeral care and insurance to legal services and logistics, Co-op offers all kinds of products and services, so they’re always looking for new talent to join their teams.
On our website, you’ll find vacancies that need specific experience (like embalmers and solicitors) alongside roles you can jump right into and learn on the job (such as funeral arrangers).
What makes the Co-op different from other employers is that it’s owned by over five million members, rather than a group of wealthy shareholders. As a result, it focuses on the needs of the many, not the few – running community-led social initiatives, focusing on sustainability, and offering great employee benefits.
9. Majestic Wine
Majestic Wine is the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer with more than 200 stores nationwide (and new ones on the horizon). They offer a mix of part-time and full-time in-store roles, ideal for older adults looking for something sociable and rewarding.
Alongside the satisfaction of helping customers find wine, beer, and spirits they’ll love, Majestic Wine provides employees with exciting perks. For example, all forward-facing roles receive WSET (the Wine & Spirit Education Trust) training and the chance to win incentive trips to vineyards and distilleries worldwide.
If in-store roles aren’t for you, you can also check out the opportunities available at their head office in Watford.
To find out more about working at Majestic Wine, you might like to read our interview with 52-year-old Natalia Kania, a manager at their Covent Garden store. She’s worked for Majestic for 14 years and is still as passionate about her role as ever.
10. Koru Kids
Many would agree that few jobs are as fun and fulfilling as caring for children. So, whether you’ve been a parent, grandparent, teacher, or you just love being around kids, why not consider becoming a nanny?
Koru Kids are the UK’s fastest-growing childcare service – and they’re looking for committed and reliable older adults wanting to bring their years of life experience to part-time nanny roles across England.
Alongside the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a difference to someone’s life each day, with Koru Kids, you’ll have the flexibility to choose when you work.
“I don’t see it as a job because it’s so flexible and rewarding, and I just use all the natural instincts that I already have as a mother,” Koru Kids nanny Glaucia said when we interviewed her back in 2019.
To find out more about working for Koru Kids, you can read Glaucia’s full story here.
11. Elior UK
Catering and hospitality company Elior employs over 10,000 people across the UK, serving at venues like stadiums, hospitals, schools, and workplaces. Their mission is to ‘enrich lives, everywhere, every day’ – and this applies to employees, not just customers.
Working for Elior, you’ll have access to great benefits. Depending on the role, these may include complimentary on-the-job meals, access to a 24/7 GP and other health services, and great discounts on cinemas, holidays, and restaurants.
Roles vary from chefs and cleaners to kitchen porters and front-of-house servers, with both part-time and full-time opportunities. So whether you’re seeking to further your culinary career or something flexible to fit between your busy lifestyle, it’s worth checking out the hundreds of Elior jobs on our website.
Final thoughts…
From retail and care to publishing and automotive, age-diverse companies across all industries are opening their doors to new talent this autumn.
So whether you’d like to re-enter the workforce, change careers, or level up your existing one, we hope this article has offered some inspiration.
For more job ideas, check out our careers section, where you’ll find articles like 10 seasonal jobs to land this Christmas and 11 things to avoid when you’re searching for a job. Or search roles with other age-diverse employers using the button below.
Are you looking for a new role this autumn? Or have you already found one? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
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