retail sales associate

retail supervisor

assistant manager

branch manager

trading manager

Screwfix

Disappointed.
Shame that such a well performing Business is allowed to mask a number of significant flaws in the operation!
Amateur, and at times, grossly unprofessional senior managers!
Very subjective Business – if your face fits, you’re in, if not, well you know the rest! If it doesn’t, you’ll be ignored, after they try to ‘remove’ you, on the grounds you may not be a good fit for the Business! Should you survive, then you’ll get mandatory visits only, the big cheeses will be shown to those little cheeses with a ‘future’! In the meantime, beware, some of the little cheeses will be waiting for you to make a mistake, which will likely be a] recorded and b] reported; which they are encouraged to do, as they are led to  believe this provides a rite of passage to a big cheese.
Junior managers afforded responsibility and decision making, well outside the bounds of their experience; consequently, their communications serve to provide further irritation, as unsurprisingly, they fail to discharge that responsibility effectively!
If you’ve worked in retail and experienced EPOS, you’ll hate the platforms in use here – clunky, and prone to failure, regularly, you’ll lose count of the occasions you have to apologise face to face with your customers! No commercial data either, as a consequence, you’ll be counting forever to establish sales data; and have to rely on published data via 3rd parties.
Too much paperwork, duplication, too many passwords [I had 14 last count], too frequently amended, too often locked out of a screen or platform due to password expiry times set by Kingfisher.
I’d say the same for the IT facilities, and the background support, unpredictable, unreliable and often untimely.
No ownership of a ‘problem’, so if you call the central office and speak to the ‘wrong’ colleague, they won’t find or point you towards the ‘right’ colleague; as a result, you’ll have to start your enquiry again! 
Expanded way too quickly – taken the same broken systems for the ride, put way too much pressure on the support personnel!  The colleague base has become stretched and subsequently the knowledge pool diluted!
Regularly having to ‘lend’ someone to somewhere else, pressure driven by too few hours and an over complication of task in general, there’s barely sufficient resource to deliver daily basics!
Micro-management, beyond reason!
The Business claims to have ‘great culture’ which it seeks to constantly remind us all of.
I didn’t experience this ‘great culture’; perhaps I had immunity!
This is just a brief summary of my findings, NOT anyone else’s. Furthermore, I wouldn’t suggest it’s a bad place to work, since many seem to enjoy it. But you only need 1 person to suggest it isn’t that good to justify an enquiry, should the Board members care sufficiently, after all, should the culture be that good, everyone would enjoy it, would they not!! Or is it just ‘lip service’!
I note around 15% or so of leavers [76] prepared to pass comment on this site have rated Screwfix at 1.
Not just me then!
Perhaps if just one of the above mentioned senior managers could bring themselves to say thanks for just 1 of over a thousand working days, let alone wish me well for the future….my mistake, I got paid every month!!!!!!
Shame that such a well performing Business is allowed to mask a number of significant flaws in the operation!
Disappointed!
Good luck!

I worked for ScrewFix for approximately 5 years and applied for a part time job after retiring early from working in construction.

I shopped in screwfix a lot and all the staff always seemed nice with good customer service. It was a no brainer for me to apply for a part time job.

When first starting the training in our store was not great but the job was easy, although this can vary from store to store.

Overall I think ScrewFix is a great company to work for and the upper management put alot of time and reasources into looking after their employees offering many different incentive schemes and further development. All that being said I have to say both in my store and one or two other stores in our area then middle management was terrible. I don't think this would be true in general for ScrewFix but I have personaly witnessed a lot of Branch Managers and Assistant Managers do terrible things to employees and get away with it.

Much of the disciplinaries and general HR work is generaly carried out by the management of the specific store you work at which makes it very easy for 'things to happen' and for people to be taken advantage of, or for things to be covered up, due to there being no real oversight by head office.

If you work in a Store with a good manager who cares about their staff SF is great but if you are unlucky enough to have a horrible manger it can be a very unpleasant place to work, much of the 'Whistle Blower' 'Anon complaints' system just doesn't work and I have seen employees be singled out for complaining about mangers even for very serious reasons.

Ultimately SF is like many large companies at this stage, how nice it is will depend on the managers you have. There are many employee incentives and benefits but branch managers are given a lot of free reign over how their stores a run.

Another thing that is worth knowing is that SF invests a lot of time helping people progress up through management roles (those who want too) but they require in house training to be completed which can last literally years, but brand new employees being recruited with no experience just walk into roles. For example yo could have been an Assistant Manager (ASM) as ScrewFix for 5 years and if you want to move up you would need to complete a STEP UP management qulification which could take you years, meanwhile some random person applying externaly for the posistion of store manager (someone who used to run a pub for example) would just be given the job with 1 months training. SF seems to priorotise bring people in from outside far more than helping people within the company to move up and although I do find many people end up progressing their careers and moving up the ranks it's generally because SF keep expanding and not due to how easy they make it.

If you are an Assistant Manager in a store currently and are thinking of applying for a position as a SF store because you are hoping to move up through the ranks then don't, go straight to a Branch Manager position your will be grateful when you find out all the corporate rubbish you have just managed to side step lol.

ScrewFix are a great employer for under 18s also and will employee people at the ages of 16+ they also seem to have a large diverse workforce compared to most other DIY stores and Trade Counters.

What is the best part of working at the company?
During my time working at Screwfix, I most enjoyed the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to interact with a wide range of customers. I found it really rewarding to help customers find the right products quickly and efficiently, especially when they were working on important projects or needed urgent solutions. I also enjoyed being part of a supportive team, where everyone worked together to keep things running smoothly. This experience helped me build confidence in my communication skills and improved my ability to problem-solve under pressure.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part of working at Screwfix was managing the busy periods, especially when there were long queues and multiple customers needing help at the same time. It could be challenging to stay calm and efficient while ensuring each customer received good service. There was also pressure to work quickly and accurately, particularly when handling orders and stock. However, this helped me develop resilience, time management skills, and the ability to stay focused under pressure.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment at Screwfix is fast-paced, team-oriented, and customer-focused. Staff are expected to work efficiently while maintaining a friendly and professional attitude towards customers. The culture is supportive, with team members helping each other during busy periods to ensure everything runs smoothly. There is a strong emphasis on communication, reliability, and teamwork, as well as maintaining high standards of service. Overall, it is a positive environment that encourages responsibility, cooperation, and personal development.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day at Screwfix was structured, busy, and very customer-focused. Each shift usually began with a short team briefing where we were updated on targets, promotions, and any important information for the day. After this, most of the time was spent serving customers at the till or trade counter, processing orders quickly and accurately, and helping customers collect items they had pre-ordered.
During quieter periods, I helped with restocking shelves, organising the warehouse, and ensuring the shop floor was clean and tidy. Teamwork was a key part of the role, as colleagues regularly communicated to locate items, manage orders efficiently, and support each other during busy times.
The store could become particularly fast-paced during peak hours, such as early mornings and lunch, when many tradespeople visited. This required working efficiently under pressure while maintaining good customer service. At the end of the shift, tasks included cleaning, restocking, and preparing for the next team.
Overall, a typical day at Screwfix involved a balance of customer service, organisation, and teamwork in a fast-moving retail environment.

Having worked at Screwfix for a few years, I have seen the decline (from a fairly poor starting point)  of the business over the last year. The company are cutting more and more hours from the stores and expecting existing staff to still provide the same level of customer service, which is running eveyone ragged. The business managed bumper profits during the pandemic and then  expected those same extraordinary profits to continue after the pandemic was over. Obviously this was unattainable. But us staff were being set sales targets equivalent to the pandemic period when we only gained such high numbers due to other retailers either being closed or the fact that so many isolated people had turned to DIY. This was not achievable but the stores were still given unealistic sales targets. Permanant staff are being replaced with part time staff, of which a large number are students who are generally transient and will not stay with the business. This in itself is a false economy as training takes time even when the stores have enough hours for this but college/uni students as a rule do not stay for long. We then have to go through the whole cycle again. Salaries for sales staff are just above minimum wage which compared to certain supermarket staff is meagre. There is a lot of emphasis on feeding down information to the stores but it is almost impossible to speak to anyone at head office if you have an HR query for instance. The same goes for requesting maintenance unless you continue to chase up. The IT helpdesk exists but again there is no feedback or followup. I would expect to be given a service ticket to be able to chase up existing service calls but the general answer when you ask for an update is that it will get done when it gets done. Overall very very heavy on promoting sales but pathetic when questions are directed or attempted to be directed back up the chain. As an example, I sent an email regarding ill fitting safety footwear and asked if there was any help on this. Never received any reply. We asked for an electronic fly killer for the rest area and it was delivered within a week but then took nearly a year of chasing to actually get it installed. Local management in my case was good but they were constrained by the ineptitude of senior head office management. Often when asked what the replies to our queries were we were told that they had been told "thats just the way it is". Don't ever expect a wonderfully paid career here unless you go in directly at head office management level. The stores are fodder and we are but numbers. Screwfix really need to learn that looking after your staff and two way communication are key factors for the success of modern business. In many ways they are very far behind the trend.

If you're applying as a sales assistant this is an excellent job particularly if you're working part time around studies/family. Wage for most stores in and around London is £10.35 an hour and only drops £1 an hour for stores further away. Long opening hours means there will always be a shift for you whether you can work early in the morning or late at night. You're not asked to do a million things or given unrealistic expectations. The main pillars of your job is serving customers at the till point, putting delivery away and grabbing customer orders (picks) as they come through. 

If you want to be a manager at any level though I would say a lot depends on how well your face fits rather than your actual ability at the job. If your manager is telling your area manager that you're not that great they will take that as gospel so it's really important you can maintain a good relationship with those you work with. The most frustrating thing is that if you want to progress you have to complete a 15 month apprenticeship which is a lot of work, only to be paid less than someone that they bring in externally who has never worked at Screwfix before and you will end up training them. I know that a lot of companies do this so it's not just a dig at screwifx but to their credit, Screwfix usually acts upon feedback from the staff and makes changes promptly so I am still surprised this is something they haven't fixed. There is still too much hiring externally when there is so much talent within the business asking to be promoted who either aren't given the opportunity to complete the course or the realise how long the courses are that it's not worth their time so they leave. I have seen people come in as a supervisor, then within their probation period be promoted straight to an assistant manager on more money than me without having to do any of the work I had to do for it and it's things like that that drive the staff crazy. 

In short, Screwfix isn't perfect but it is a great place. If it's just a part time job to bring in a little bit of money than I definitely encourage you to join.

If you want to build a career here I would still encourage you but I would add that a lot depends on how well you get on with the other managers and also a little bit of luck, you will need to be prepared to "play the game" as they say.

I’ve been with the company for around five to six years and, during that time, have worked across three different stores, including some shorter placements during a recent transition period. This has given me a broad perspective on how different areas operate.

For a period, I worked under a different Area Manager, and during those months I saw a noticeable decline in both my own job satisfaction and that of my team.

In contrast, the Area Manager for Area 3 is the best I’ve worked with in over 12 years of retail experience. Despite a demanding workload, he consistently demonstrates genuine care for his team. His strong people skills, transparency, and proactive approach help resolve issues early, preventing escalation and retaining valuable talent.

He communicates openly and authentically, which builds trust and creates a sense of shared purpose. His leadership style motivates you to perform at your best and not just for personal success, but for the success of the wider team.
What stands out most is his ability to identify and develop strong Store Managers. Even those he did not originally hire are recognised and supported when they perform well. My current manager, who has been with the company for four years, is a great example-she has significantly improved our store and continues to develop my skills and confidence for future progression.

If you are looking to build a career at Screwfix, it’s important to consider the capability and leadership style of your upper management. The right leadership can create an environment where people thrive, while the wrong environment can limit progression and impact job satisfaction.

Screwfix, at its core, is an inclusive company where people from all backgrounds can succeed through hard work and strong performance, but the experience can vary significantly depending on leadership.

I only wish the business would improve on efficiency and a better focus on productivity- i spend a lot of time correcting issues that could be resolved entirely through implementation of better processes across all stores. But, my skills and what has always helped me get promoted in many businesses, is not visible to Screwfix and I'll have to go elsewhere unfortunately. 

I was at Screwfix for 6 and a half years and enjoyed every moment of it, I only left due to a career change. 

I started off as a service assistant and worked my way up, there are a countless amount of opportunities within Screwfix, i even had the opportunity to work out of the UK for a couple of weeks which was a fantastic experience. 

The team at Screwfix are great and I have made so many friends working there,  The help and support is there when you need it.

If you are willing to progress in a buisness then Screwfix is definitely the place for you, what you will find is most of the managers have worked their way up through different roles. 

During my time at Screwfix I felt like I was treated as an individual and not a number, there was always help and support there when you need it and all the staff are treated fairly.

On a day to day basis you will be serving customers, putting away deliveries, facing up the warehouse. You'll definitely get your steps in! 

Don't worry about not knowing products as this will come with time, when I started I knew nothing but over time, I've learnt so much just by helping customers and learning as I go along. Your never expected to give advice on anything! 

The customers are great too, there are regulars which you can see daily and you can have a fantastic chat why'll your serving them. Of course it is retail so you may get the odd awkward customer  but it does not happen all the time! 

There is overtime available most of the time, this is only paid at a standard rate though, if your  on a 37.5 hour contract you will only get time in leiu. Shifts vary depending on contract, the longest shift you will be expected to do is 8 hours but depending on your contract your shifts may be 4 hours or 6 hours. Shifts can be discussed at the interview which is good plus you know 3 weeks in advance what you will be working as the rotas are put on the board weekly

The only negative to Screwfix is opening and closing times, they open at 7am and close at 8pm weekdays so it can be hard to get a routine depending on what shifts you will be working that week but this is not a major negative.

Overall it is a fantastic place to work,  it's a great work environment, with great people 







Working here showed me how much a workplace is shaped by its management. Unfortunately, my experience was defined more by sarcasm, micro aggressions, and outdated systems than by support or encouragement.

• Breaks were often allocated at random times, nowhere near the middle of shifts
• Booking holiday had to go through managers only, leaving the process open to delays and bias
• Raising genuine questions was often met with sarcasm
• The culture was cliquey, with some staff making belittling comments about my university course which showed how little value they placed on personal respect
• Senior managers were protected by staff in a way that felt more like loyalty to a club than professional accountability
• Late reports and unnecessary digs were used instead of constructive support

The low point was being called “high maintenance” in a review meeting by Kevin, the branch manager, simply for asking questions and double checking processes. That was not professional feedback, it was personal, and it was deeply inappropriate in a workplace setting. This comment was reported to HR and during which I experienced the extremely slow and unprofessional side of Screwfix's HR process. Kevin was made aware that I had reported him to HR, and afterwards he put me in a one to one meeting where he grilled me about it instead of addressing the issue professionally.

Instead of encouragement or development, I received serious judgement. Overall, the store’s management culture did not reflect integrity, fairness, or emotional intelligence. It left me demoralised and questioning whether initiative and effort were welcome at all.

Please don't work here.



I had two roles at this company, first was being a sales assistant which was ok. Doing the 15 question sale thing to EVERY customer gets tedious after the first week. Good luck not getting bored of it fast. Went through 2 managers here, first was good, though he was a bit slack in procedures, the 2nd she was good, and fun, and helped me through a lot when I was having a hard time personally.

I then worked hard and got a promotion to Supervisor at a different store which was great at first as I was promised so much,  but when a new manager took over, things went down rapidly. Lets just say the new manager had 0 people skills and a number of people quit the store because of her (Including me). To put it short, she spoke behind your back to others, she promised me things and never followed through, she always put me on the late shift, she was inconsistent in everything she said, whatever mood she was in set the tone for the mood of everyone, nothing you said could ever be right, hard work never got noticed unless she was told, and spent about 90% of her time sat in the office. Amongst other things like getting caught lying about a serious H&S issue, and blatantly denying it. Safe to say, it was like a school playground. Staff were punished heavily, and I mean heavily, unfairly, for tiny small mistakes with their really stupidly strict procedures for pretty much every single action you take, even though we were an extremely busy store and had bare minimum staff, and they wanted to work hard. Rules set in by the manager which killed all morale.

Oh, and the Fusion system which the staff use to sell products was horrible. Incredibly glitchy, slow, buggy. This did nothing to help during busy periods.

Pay was decent though, heating never worked so in the cold you'd literally be breathing cold air, they do have their training programs which are good and can get you higher up in the company (If you really want to stay there) and have more things to pop on your CV. 

I guess it depends on your manager really as I had 2 completely different experiences in 2 different stores. 1st was great, 2nd has completely put me off retail work.

Some elements of the work are enjoyable, although tedious and repetitive. I found the training to be basic, based upon the requirements of the service assistant role; different experienced staff saying different things wrt how to do specific tasks. There are (limited) opportunities for advancement but only if the individual pushes themselves forwards. I along with other colleagues were NOT offered any advice or information about the company pension scheme. Since the March 2020 lock-down, additional safety measures and processes have been put in place but unfortunately seem to have "faded away" with compliance having gradually degraded over time. The general feeling seems to be that selling is more important than safety, a point emphasised in the daily briefing which repeatedly states "our number one priority is sales". Unfortunately there are too many instances when I do not feel entirely comfortable or safe, purely down to working practises, complacency and lack of compliance with correct processes.  We are told to sanitise all returns which makes sense, but large numbers of customers walk in without using the sanitiser and proceed to handle items displayed for sale on the shop floor. 
Both the manager and assistant manager are approachable but offer only the party line when confronted with awkward questions, particularly regarding covid safety measures.  There is little or no appetite at management level to make the store as safe as is practically possible, rather do enough to show compliance with government guidelines. There seems to be a fear for their own career progression which prevents them from raising their heads above the parapet by challenging Area Management.
 All shop floor staff were give a bonus in 2020, a gift card at Christmas and another bonus in Jan 2021, all of which  were generous. There is a good team spirit and we are encouraged to build a rapport with customers which in turn makes for an enjoyable shift. I am aware that other stores within the area are at the opposite end of the spectrum. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Retail sales associate 2262 salaries reported	£13.09 per hour
Retail supervisor 680 salaries reported	£14.07 per hour
Assistant manager 136 salaries reported	£29,332 per year
Branch manager 121 salaries reported	£36,640 per year
Trading manager 123 salaries reported	£14.05 per hour

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