How are the career development opportunities at Toolstation?

Good pay and Good recognition

Unsafe due to the amount of thefts. Poor communications team.

Friendly colleagues, good environment, growth opportunities

Wage could be improved to be more competitive

Good student job Get to know people you work with very well 20% discount

Working in the stores, employees feel undervalued by higher-ups, lacking incentives for hard work or even basic acknowledgments like a Christmas party. Previously, a £20 voucher was provided to all employees, but this was recently scrapped, leaving no rewards in place. Long-term employees of 10-15 years receive no recognition or rewards either. There are instances of inadequate support, such as a supervisor being expected to handle solo trading in a short-staffed store without breaks or restroom access, with no effort from regional management to find cover. When the supervisor quit due to health concerns, the regional manager only took notice and found cover then, showing little concern until the situation escalated. Additionally, there are issues with incompetent workers not being dismissed despite evidence of poor performance and disruptive behavior, leaving store managers frustrated as they lack the authority to address these issues effectively. Regional managers frequently pressure workers into extended shifts up to 13 hours, as they are unwilling to find cover or delegate this responsibility, leaving workers feeling overburdened and unsupported.

Lots of opportunities to progress Semi-small company with close relationships between regional/divisional managers

Long hours - sometimes 13 hour days.

1. Somewhat cohesive team. Everyone is very helpful, accepting and welcoming. This is the only reason I would stay and work in Toolstation. 2. The radio always brightens the mood at work especially during winter months. Customers also love it! (Until the management made the worst decision and removed it recently) 3. Discount card 4. Paid training 5.Good opportunity for students to learn about the trades 6. Sometimes you'll meet that one or three awesome customer that treats you like a close friend or family. Those moments are always special.

1. Thrive web system/app is garbage to navigate and use for training. 2. Questionable hire at times. Some coworkers and supervisors are borderline psychotic/mentally unwell. I had seen too many cases of coworkers and supervisors having a public meltdown in front of the customers. 3. Too much emphasis on getting customers to register or use an account. The manager will threaten you with a disciplinary action if you get too many anonymous customers. Toolstation management can't seem to comprehend basic consent and will push you to convince customers to register an account in order to purchase. 4. Discouraged or reprimanded from sitting down during work. Sometimes you'll get told off even you're just writing up deliveries. 5. Severely understaffed. Employees should be given bonuses for doing 12 hour shifts to cover a sick or absent staff. I suffered from episodic knee pain from doing multiple 12 hour shift - 2-3 times a week, which never recovered even after rehab. At one point I was working 52+ hours per week. 6. Unmanageable Workloads During Peak Seasons. Usually near the end of the year when contractors are rushing to get their jobs done. There are only 2 staff on duty in the morning. 3 during the midday and 2 in the evenings (goes back to the issue of the store being understaffed). 7. The customers are horrible to deal with. Some are abusive, verbally and physically. Thefts from the usual suspects are plenty which are unadressed. 8. Carewashing is very obvious and real in this company. Don't expect to get any kind of wellbeing help from top level. My concerns was brushed away by management. I was their top performing staff and they didn't even care. 9. Employees are expected to take on cleaning responsibilities, including toilets, in addition to their primary job duties 10. Rotas are always released late. 11. I wanted to be a full time staff but was declined. The store didn't have the budget. During slow months it was hard to get by financially with a 20 hr contract especially in London. 12. No career prospect. I've seen my supervisors go above and beyond and are still left being in the same role and wage for 6 years. If you are young and have some sort of education or uni degree. Don't be suckered into staying for more than 2-3 years. There is no future for you here.

Flexible Rotas, Some good teams.

Awful senior leadership, empty promises left and right, always asking for more for no additional benefit or compensation. Career opportunities die at the top of the store level.

Salary on time Paid holidays

No clear career route Miss one shift you are screwed

Friendly and supportive team within this store, I was lucky enough to go to a couple of other stores and teams were pleasant there too. Pay was reasonable for the work and my hours were nice too (my were the same with weekends off due to the job position) I was able to start an apprenticeship within this store too, so a lot of encouragement to support further learning and opportunities to progress.

My role was very new in the company still so the only negative I would say with my role in particular was that there wasn't much structure too it, I learnt a lot on the go but once sorted found it very enjoyable.

Not many pros, uniform was okay

Promise a lot, no progression. Achieve high and receive little.

Good progression inside company and further TP Group Good Regional Team and dedicated support

Lack of clarity on goals, often copy pasted corporate reviews. No clear outline for bonus which has never been paid during my employment as they have changed the scheme every year. Poor salary for the effort some managers put in vs others.