Recruitment

Join our team		Opportunities
Meet our staff

Investing in you

Training and Development at Big Yellow
At Big Yellow we recognise that investing in training and development is key to both individual and Company success. We are committed to offering a variety of learning experiences to ensure that everyone is provided with the skills that they need to succeed.

We constantly review our training programmes to ensure that they meet our current needs and bring out the best in all employees throughout the business.

Store Induction
Right from the start we will give you all the support you need through our comprehensive Induction which will provide you with the tools, skills and confidence to begin your career.

Further Development
In addition to our off the job training courses, we have introduced competence based Success Factors which will assist us in identifying your training needs and support your career development within the Company.

Management Development
We offer a variety of training courses to assist you to manage your store, covering everything from Interviewing Skills, Managing the Workload, Negotiation Skills and Impact and Influencing.

Head Office
We are as supportive of training and development within Head Office as we are in our stores and we are committed to investing in our staff to encourage their development.

As a new member of the Head Office team you will participate in our Induction Training, to help you to understand our business and give you the confidence needed at the start of your career.

Throughout your employment you will receive continual coaching and regular reviews of your performance. We will support and encourage you to identify training which will assist you to develop in your role and we may also provide you with sponsorship to undertake professional studies.

Questions

How do I apply?
Please send your CV to:
The Human Resources Department
2 The Deans
Bridge Road
Bagshot
Surrey
GU19 5AT
Or fill out our Application Form on-line.

What is the recruitment process?
Having screened your application, if you fit our selection criteria you will be invited to attend an initial interview (usually with the relevant Line Manager) where you will be required to sit a numeracy/literacy test. If you are successful at this stage you will then be invited to attend a second interview (usually carried out by a Senior Manager and/or a member of the Human Resources Department). We will ensure that you are notified of the outcome of all interviews as soon as possible.

What are the opening hours?
Stores are open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 6.00 pm on Saturday and 10.00 am to 2.00 pm on Sunday. Staff work a rota of five days out of seven and are contracted to work 40 hours a week.

Head Office hours are from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday and staff are contracted to work 37.5 hours a week.

Will I have to work weekends?
As it is our busiest time, you will be required to work weekends on a rota basis in stores.

Some Head Office positions, such as Customer Services, will require Saturday working on a rota basis.

Will I have to relocate?
Not necessarily. It is preferable that store staff live within thirty minutes travelling time of their base store, but we do ask them to be flexible if cover is needed in another store. Head Office staff are based in Bagshot, Surrey.

Will I receive training?
We are committed to investing in the training and development of all our employees. For more information go to the Investing in You section.

What benefits would I be entitled to?
We have spent considerable time developing and investing in a benefits package that reflects how we value our staff. For more information go to the Why Work for Us section.

What is the structure of our stores?
Stores operate in small teams of three or four members of staff. Each store is run by a Store Manager, who is supported by a Deputy / Assistant Manager and Sales Assistant/s. Between five to eight stores form an area which is overseen by a Senior Store Manager.

What are the promotional prospects at Big Yellow?
Big Yellow is a rapidly expanding company. It is our intention to acquire an additional 50 stores over the next 5 years. Promotional prospects will depend on your performance and your flexibility of location.

How much holiday will I enjoy?
Holiday allowances start at 20 days a year and rise by one extra day with each year of service to a maximum of 25 days per annum.

Do I receive any shares in the Company?
Big Yellow is listed on the Stock Exchange. Eligible employees will be invited to join the Sharesave Scheme on a bi-annual basis and contribute to a savings plan over three years.

Do I receive a staff discount?
Staff receive a 25% discount on storage facilities as well as packing materials and merchandise.

Why work for us?

As one of the leading self storage groups in the UK, we've built up an impressive reputation to become one of the most recognised brands in the industry. But we can't take all the credit; our people have also played a key role in making us who we are today. Recognising their commitment we've developed an exceptional benefits package that includes not only financial rewards, such as bonuses, pensions and sharesave schemes, but also personal incentives such as getting a day off on your birthday, receiving high street vouchers or Red Letter Day experiences.

Our Benefits
We have spent considerable time developing and investing in a benefits package that reflects how we value our staff. Our current benefits include:

• Bonus: If you work within a store you will be eligible to receive a discretionary bonus of up to 20% of your annual salary which is calculated against operational and sales targets. As a member of the Head Office team you will be eligible to receive a bi-annual discretionary bonus of up to 15% of your annual salary.
• Sharesave Scheme: You will be eligible to join the Sharesave scheme after six months of employment.
• Pension Scheme: We have a contributory pension scheme run in conjunction with Friends Provident. Contributions of 3% commence on completion of probationary period and rise to 6% after 2 years.
• Holiday Entitlement: Holidays start at 20 days per annum, increasing with service to a maximum of 25 days a year.
• Childcare Vouchers: We offer Childcare Vouchers in conjunction with Sodexho - pass which provides Tax & NI relief towards Childcare costs.
• Discount: All staff are offered 25% discount on room rental and merchandise.
• Birthday: You will receive your birthday as an extra day off!
• Big Yellow Pleasure Points Scheme: We run a points based scheme in conjunction with Red Letter Days and Incentive Cheques which enables you to enjoy fantastic experiences like driving a Ferrari, pampering yourself at a health spa or exchanging your points for vouchers from a choice of over 100 retail and entertainment providers!
• Social Benefits: All our stores and Head Office have a fund to organise social events. Our past activities have included go-karting, paint balling, bowling, comedy evenings and horse racing!
• Events in your life: We recognise your special occasions such as engagements, weddings, births, birthdays and other personal achievements.
• Service Awards: We recognise employees who are loyal to the organisation and reward service achievements through our Pleasure Points Scheme.

Our Culture
We offer a dynamic, fun, working environment where the culture is open and friendly and the hours of work are regular. Whilst we work hard to achieve our goals, we also play hard. Our past company events include summer conferences at the London Dungeon and the Cabinet War Rooms, and Christmas parties at The Pacific Oriental and the Eve Club.

Words from our Chief Executive
We believe that the involvement and contribution of all staff at Big Yellow is key to the success of our business. We actively support individual development throughout the group, enabling employees to grow with our Company. The passion and the enthusiasm of our staff has been essential in developing both our brand and our leading position within the self storage sector.

The forthcoming year will be an exciting time for the Company with new store openings and the development of our existing portfolio, all of which will provide plenty of career opportunities.

Jimmy Gibson
May 2006