Meet - Dunelm

Generous Annual leave

33 days’ annual holiday including statutory holiday, plus your birthday day off to celebrate, and another day when you move house.

Discounts

Generous discounts on all our own products, in-store and online.

Charity Day Off

Charity day off (paid, of course) so you can volunteer somewhere that matters to you.

Salary Advance

Salary advance so you can access up to 50% of the money you’ve earned during the month, rather than having to wait until pay day.

Access to wellbeing support as and when you need it, including an online GP for you and your immediate family.

As an apprentice at Dunelm, you will receive support from your colleagues, your Line Manager the dedicated L&D team and the team with your training provider.

You will be buddied up with capable mentors who were once in your shoes, so feel confident that you will learn from the best.

Our Retail Leadership Degree Apprenticeship is a thoughtfully structured development pathway designed to help you build a long term career in retail. From day one, you’ll gain the skills, experience and confidence you need to grow into a leadership role and, over time, become part of a store’s management team.

At Dunelm, we genuinely care about seeing our colleagues grow. That’s why as a Future Retail Leader, internal progression plays such an important part in how we develop our colleagues. Over four and a half years, you’ll be supported and challenged in equal measure, with the space to learn, try new things and find your own leadership style. You’ll be paired with experienced mentors who’ve been on this journey themselves – people who know the role inside out and are there to guide you every step of the way.

What you’ll be doing

• You’ll start your journey as a Sales Assistant colleague in Years 1 & 2, before progressing into a Stock/Store Operations Coach role in Year 3 & a Customer Experience Coach in Year 4 as your skills and confidence grow. Here you will learn the foundations of process and people management.

Entry requirements/Qualification 

• You are Customer obsessed – you put the customer first in every interaction
• You’ll enjoy contributing to a welcoming environment that feels like home, for our colleagues and our customers
• Ideally, previous experience of working within a fast-paced retail, service or hospitality environment.
• Be 18 or older – for university entry requirement purposes.
• Have the right of abode and right to work in the UK.
• GCSE Mathematics and English Language (grade 4, or previously grade C) or equivalent.

All successful graduates are awarded a Retail Leadership Degree Apprenticeship with BSc (Hons).

Our Supply Chain Degree Apprenticeship Scheme is designed to give you all the tools that you need to begin your career in the world of distribution and learn the foundations of what makes a great supply chain colleague.

Over the four years, you will learn and experience every aspect of working as a valued member of the team in the operational side of the supply chain. This may be as part of our Stoke distribution team, or our very own home delivery network, who deliver directly to our customers. or our very own Home Delivery Network, who deliver directly to our customers.

What you’ll be doing

• You’ll join the team as a Supply Chain Apprentice where you’ll supercharge your knowledge and build management experience of our operation
• Our operation works with differing shift patterns; you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside the different teams on these same patterns
• This role will be three days in the office (minimum) and two days at home

Qualification

• You will be enrolled on a Level 6 Supply Chain Management Degree Apprenticeship
• For each module, you will attend two on-campus sessions at Aston University, lasting two days, usually in week one and week seven of each term
• You will be designated six hours of learning per week, which you will be paid for alongside 34 hours per week of working at Dunelm

Entry Requirement

•  A minimum of Grade C/4 or above in Mathematics and English
• Three A Levels at CCC or above, or equivalent BTECs
•  A flexible approach to working hours/shift patterns
• An interest in data and analysis will be an advantage

Our Buying Apprenticeship Scheme is more than just a training programme. It’s been designed to give you all the tools, experiences, and support you need to build the foundations of a successful career in buying for people with a real passion for product!

Over two years, you will learn and experience every aspect of working in a Buying Assistant role. You will be part of a specific department and category Buying team and be responsible for planning and selecting the products our customers love, both in store and online. Working closely with suppliers, you’ll help shape compelling and competitive ranges that make a real impact.

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting the team to research trends that aid in creating the product range
• Manage samples for your Buyer
• Working with the Web team
• Support the Buyer with promotions, including buying special purchases.

Qualification 

• You will be enrolled onto a Level 4 Buying and Merchandising apprenticeship Assistant Apprenticeship
• This gives you the academic grounding to match your practical skills.
• With some hard work, you’ll achieve your qualification in 18 months (full programme 2 years)
• You’ll have 6 hours of dedicated learning time each week, fully paid, alongside 34 hours of hands on experience working at Dunelm

Entry Requirements 

• A minimum of six GCSEs including Maths and English at Grades 4-9
• Highly organised, with clear ability to be able to prioritise workload
• Proficient in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Must be based in England for the duration of the apprenticeship and must have lived in the UK/EEA continuously for the last 3 years

Our Merchandising and Data apprenticeship plays a huge part in our business. Driving smarter decisions, deeper customer insights, and a stronger competitive edge. By harnessing data, we unlock growth and innovation. Our Data Apprentice is in our Commercial Merchandising team as a Merchandising Assistant.

This apprenticeship programme equips you with practical skills to manage and interpret data effectively, covering key topics such as data types, preparation, analysis, visualisation, communication, anonymisation, compliance, and ethical handling. Your role ensures products are available for our customers and promoted effectively to drive sales.

What you’ll be doing:

• Critical Path Management for your department for all new range launches, marketing and promotional activity
• Raising and maintaining purchase orders and ensuring the system accurately reflects intake
• Complete weekly stock reporting & identifying risk & actions to your Merchandiser
• Collaborating with suppliers and internal teams to gather product data, enhancing accuracy and compliance to support business systems and operations

Qualification

You will be enrolled on a Level 3 Data Technician apprenticeship

The role offers the perfect blend of hands-on merchandising experience and structured learning

You’ll have 6 hours of dedicated learning time each week, fully paid, alongside 34 hours of hands on experience working at Dunelm

Entry Requirements

• Must have Functional Skills Level 2 / GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent) at grade C or above and be able to provide certificates or equivalent. If not, you will need to sit functional skills exams with the apprenticeship provider
• Must be based in England for the duration of the apprenticeship and must have lived in the UK/EEA continuously for the last 3 years
• A good level of Microsoft Office experience, particularly Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot tables)
• Must be data literate with a STEM/data literacy background (e.g. A-level, degrees or apprenticeship)

Our Made to Measure fitting apprenticeship is a unique role that blends hands-on technical skills, customer interaction and the freedom of being out on the road.

You would work together with stores, store operations, digital growth, product and design teams to keep things running smoothly and sustainably.

This four-year apprenticeship is your chance to dive into the world of Made to Measure and build a career that’s as unique as our products. You’ll get hands-on experience in fitting, sales, customer service, and leadership, all while earning nationally recognised qualifications.

As a Future Retail Leader, your journey starts with the basics, then grows into technical know-how and leadership skills.

What you’ll be doing

• Learn the full customer journey from consultation to installation.
• Deliver expert installations and exceptional customer service.
• Develop product knowledge in blinds, curtains, and shutters.

Qualification

• Complete a Level 2 Customer Service apprenticeship qualification and a Level 3 Team Leader qualification
• Gain specialist training in fitting blinds in customers’ homes, making every day varied, practical and people-focused.
• You’ll have 6 hours of dedicated learning time each week, fully paid, alongside 34 hours of hands on experience working at Dunelm

Entry Requirements

• Full UK driving licence by the time the apprenticeship begins.
• Level 1 achievement in Maths and English
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment.