Retail Trainee Manager
Sainsbury'sExpected closing date: Wednesday, 18 November 2026
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Key Takeaways
- Undertake a 3-phase learning journey to become a Retail Manager, gaining practical experience and leadership skills.
- Starting annual pay of £28,500 (London: £31,200), rising to £31,700 (London: £34,200) upon programme completion.
- Gain a permanent role in a Sainsbury's supermarket or convenience store, with potential for location flexibility.
- Receive a range of benefits including discounts, free food, generous holiday, pension matching, and wellbeing support.
About the Role
About the Retail Trainee Manager Programme
This programme covers the geographical area specified in the advert title. Further information about specific roles and locations available will be discussed with you at interview. If successful in your application you will be placed in a store; when making this placement we will consider your current residence and travel time, and flexibility on location will be required.
Why join us
Being a manager involves taking on leadership responsibilities, making decisions and on occasion overseeing the running of a store. Customers and colleagues are at the heart of a line manager role, and ensuring a safe, legal, and secure store is paramount. To help you develop as a leader, we’ve designed a three-phase learning journey that will help you gain the knowledge and skills required to be a first-line manager.
Whether the role you’re placed in at the end of the programme is managing in a Convenience store or one of our Supermarkets, for this programme we’re looking for raw potential, whether you’ve got no leadership experience, or just a little. We value your unique strengths and experiences and are dedicated to supporting your development. We’ll offer you a competitive salary and benefits as well as great flexibility in terms of hours (Part Time and Full-Time opportunities are available) and locations. This programme offers a platform for you to shine and advance your career in our thriving retail environment.
What you'll do
The programme itself consists of three phases:
Phase 1: Learning Journey (6 weeks)
- Join a cohort of other trainee managers.
- Acquire necessary knowledge and skills through instructor-led workshops, tasks, and e-learning.
- Immerse yourself in the role of a colleague.
- At the end of Phase 1, you will be assigned to a permanent management role in either a Sainsbury's supermarket or a convenience store, which may require a change in location.
Phase 2: Practical Experience (12 weeks)
- Receive training specific to your role.
- Gain practical experience with support from job experts and your line manager.
- Deliver daily and weekly routines expected of managers.
- Final sign-off point; if successful, you’ll get your permanent position as a retail manager.
Phase 3: Full Role and Behavioural Skills (12 weeks)
- Perform the full role of a retail manager.
- Re-join your cohort to focus on learning and applying essential behavioural skills for effective management, including managing performance, giving feedback, and team dynamics.
Who you are
We want our leaders to be motivated by a passion for food, customer service, or the products we sell. You may not have any experience in leadership, but you’re excited to learn and bring experiences that have helped you develop skills in communication, customer service, and teamwork. Most of all, you’ll be excited to start your leadership journey with us.
What we'll give you
- Secondment Allowance: Received after four weeks on the programme to supplement your pay.
- Annual Pay: Training to be a Customer and Trading Manager provides an allowance bringing your total annual pay up to £28,500 (London: £31,200).
- Upon Completion: Your salary will be raised to the base rate for the role you are placed in:
- Customer and Trading Manager (Sainsbury’s): £31,700 (London £34,200)
- Benefits:
- Discount card: 10% off shopping at Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu, and Habitat after four weeks.
- Free food and hot drinks in all stores.
- Generous holiday entitlement, maternity and paternity leave.
- Pension: Sainsbury's will match 4-7% of your pension contributions.
- Sainsbury’s share scheme: build up an investment at discounted prices.
- Wellbeing support: access to emotional support, counselling, legal and financial advice.
- Colleague networks: link with like-minded people.
- Cycle to Work scheme: hire a new bike and cycling equipment, saving on tax and NI.
- Special offers on gym memberships, restaurants, holidays, retail vouchers, and more.
- Nightshift premium: up to £4,500 annually for working nights, where eligible.