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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.
Aside from getting to immerse yourself in pet products and meet all kinds of pet owners, perks of working at Jollyes include in-store discounts, a financial wellbeing package, and additional paid leave for your wedding, a new pet coming home, and your birthday.
Still on the fence? Jollyes Pets was named one of the ‘Best Places to Work’ by the Sunday Times in 2024 – and their 4.7-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, an Oxford Aunts carer in her 70s, 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 lifeguards. You can jump straight into many of these jobs and learn as you go, making them ideal for later-life career changers.
Butlins is proud of its work culture and says staff can look forward to being part of a team that genuinely cares for each other.
5. 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 support workers and occupational therapists.
Deborah, who’s in her 50s, 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.
6. Travelodge
Most of us know Travelodge for its affordable, reliable hotel rooms across the UK, but few of us consider how much work goes into keeping things running. There are a huge range of roles available with Travelodge this season, from behind-the-scenes roles like maintenance engineers and housekeeping team members to front-of-house responsibilities, such as reception work and food and drink service.
Travelodge offers staff a fun, friendly working environment, discounts on rooms plus food and drink, progression opportunities, and regular rewards and recognition activities such as ‘FAB Fridays’ and ‘Housekeeping Heroes’.
Flexible working opportunities are also available; Housekeeping Team Members, for example, can work between 9/10am and 2/4pm. Plus, you don’t need experience to get started in many of the roles, as on-the-job training is provided.
7. Space NK
Space NK is a British beauty retailer known for curating premium and niche skincare, makeup, and haircare brands, with stores and an online shop across the UK and beyond. For anyone interested in a beauty-focused customer service role, your next opportunity could be just around the corner.
Even better is that you don’t necessarily need to be a beauty expert to apply for some of the roles on offer, such as beauty advisor, as long as you have a passion for the subject.
You’ll also get 50% off products (brand-dependent), and access to training and development opportunities from Space NK’s education team and brand partners.
8. Move It Or Lose It
What better way to stay active, make a meaningful difference to your community, and earn at the same time than becoming a fitness instructor? If you’ve ever thought about retraining in a new career, this could be your chance.
By becoming an instructor with Move It Or Lose It, you’ll receive comprehensive training, equipping you with the skills, confidence, and support to safely deliver high-quality exercise classes to older adults. You don’t need any experience to get started; many of their fitness instructors have backgrounds in caring, health, teaching, or completely different professions, bringing valuable transferable skills and a genuine passion for helping others.
To find out more about how to become a fitness instructor, you can read our career guide – or click through to the Move It Or Lose It website to apply.
9. Fuller's
Fancy a career with a bit of character? Fuller’s, the historic London pub and hotel group, offers supportive teams, hands-on training, and plenty of scope to progress, whether you’re starting out, changing direction, or returning to work.
The brand is looking for kitchen assistants, supervisors, chefs, bar and waiting staff, porters, and other roles to join their branches UK-wide.
Fuller’s pride themselves on embracing diversity in their workforce and providing a supportive environment with opportunities for continuous growth. As well as staff discounts on food and drink and hotel stays for you and your friends and family, they also offer a fair share of tips, paid on top of your hourly pay on a weekly basis, and a Healthcare Cash Plan.
10. 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, customer-facing roles receive WSET (the Wine & Spirit Education Trust) training and some roles come with the chance to explore different vineyards around the world.
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.
11. 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.
Hachette UK offers staff a range of attractive benefits, such as eye care vouchers and dental insurance to discounts on books and generous pension schemes.
Roles crop up regularly, so keep an eye out if you can’t find what you’re looking for today.
Final thoughts…
From retail and care to publishing and beauty, 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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