Halfords to recruit UK’s biggest ever crew of cycling experts
- Halfords calling for cycling experts to join team all across the UK
- Follows ‘Summer of Cycling’ boom
SIGNALLING the biggest ever recruitment drive of its kind, Halfords has started a nationwide campaign to fill 500 new permanent positions.
The majority of these roles will be in cycling, strengthening Halfords position as Europe's largest cycle retailer. This has been driven - in part - by the phenomenal growth in cycling inspired by the success of the UK's elite athletes and the continued investment in the country's cycling infrastructure. The positions will be created across the company's entire store portfolio of 467 Halfords' superstores.
Shortlisted by the Sunday Times as one of the top 25 companies in the UK, the recruitment drive tops off an unparalleled year in cycling for Halfords, with a strong financial performance posted in May for year ending March 2014 and the recent purchase of Boardman Bikes. World Champion Chris Boardman MBE’s range of Performance Series bikes is the UK’s fastest growing premium bike brand. World Champion Victoria Pendleton’s collection is the UK’s best-selling women’s bike range, and Halfords heritage own brands continue their unrivalled success with every one in three bicycles sold an Apollo bike.
Today Halfords reported a 21.3% increase in the latest quarter’s like-for-like cycling sales, including a 35.1% increase in premium-bike sales. Putting customers at the centre of the business is also significantly boosting service levels and customer feedback scores.
Building on the UK’s leading retailer’s 100 years of heritage, the mix of bike specialist and customer service focused roles will deliver an unrivalled level of customer service to Halfords’ customers.
Jonathan Crookall, Halfords’ People Director, said: “Cycling is at the heart of Halfords, and we’re enhancing our team with the biggest ever recruitment of cycling gurus for our stores. These 500 permanent roles will help us get even more of Britain cycling. Passionate people who want to apply should visit www.halfordscareers.com.”
For more information, visit www.halfordscareers.com.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact Halfords@z-pr.com or 020 7896 3404
Halfords is the UK's leading retailer of automotive, cycling and leisure products and, through Halfords Autocentres, also one of the UK's leading independent car servicing and repair operators. Halfords customers shop at over 460 stores in the UK and ROI and at halfords.com for pick-up at their local store or direct home delivery. Halfords Autocentres operates from over 300 sites nationally and offers motorists dealership-quality MOTs, repairs and car servicing at affordable prices.
The Halfords group strategy is based on three pillars:
• Supporting Drivers Of Every Car
• Inspiring Cyclists Of Every Age
• Equipping Families For Their Leisure Time
The Getting Into Gear strategy for the Retail business is based on executing in five key areas in order to deliver a significantly-enhanced customer experience:
• Service Revolution
• The H Factor
• Stores Fit to Shop
• 21st Century Infrastructure
• Click with the Digital Future
Halfords employs approximately 12,000 colleagues and sells around 9,000 product lines in store, increasing to around 30,000 Retail products online. The Retail offering encompasses significant ranges in car parts, cycles, in-car technology, child seats, roof boxes, outdoor leisure and camping equipment. Halfords’ private-label brands include Apollo, Carrera and Boardman cycles, augmented by a range of other brands of cycles and accessories, including Kona, Mongoose and Pinarello. In Auto, the Halfords Essentials and Halfords Enhanced ranges are sold alongside brands such as Generic Electric, Bosch, Garmin and TomTom. In Travel Solutions, Halfords sells a premium range of camping equipment including brands such as Vango and Outwell. Halfords offers customers expert advice and a fitting service called ‘wefit’ for car parts, child seats, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment systems, and a ‘werepair’ service for cycles.
Louise Iles
Email: louise.iles@halfords.co.uk
Tel: 01527 513206
With over 100 years experience of selling cycles, Halfords are the UK's number one bike specialist. At Halfords, we understand that selling a bike is more than providing it in a box. That is why we offer free* bike build at your local Halfords store even if you buy online and have your bike delivered to your door. We'll also fit free of charge any accessories you've bought at the same time as your bike, whether bought online or in store. We also offer a six-week free health check on your bike.