Life at Next

Early years nursery practitioner shares why leaving construction for an apprenticeship at NEXT changed his life and how he supports young children.

Discover what life is like inside the on site nursery at NEXT Head Office. In this episode of our podcast series, one of our dedicated early years practitioners talks openly about his journey from working on a building site to discovering his true vocation in child development.

Starting with a Level 2 apprenticeship and now progressing through his Level 3 qualification, he shares how he helps children achieve key milestones from the toddler room through to preschool. Learn how our dedicated team supports inclusive communication through British Sign Language and Makaton, creates balanced daily routines, and works closely with parents across head office.

He also reflects on the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme supported by NEXT, taking on expeditions in the Yorkshire Dales, learning essential map reading skills and building lasting friendships with colleagues across the wider business.

00:00 Early years care and milestones

00:59 Breaking stereotypes: Men in child care

02:34 Switching careers from construction to nursery

03:48 Inside the head office nursery at NEXT

06:52 Learning British Sign Language and Makaton

09:17 The importance of early child development

11:02 Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition

16:09 Gaining confidence and map reading skills

19:17 Working in partnership with parents

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Discover how retail career growth really works at NEXT, from building resilience to moving from customer service advisor to communications coordinator.

In this episode, we sit down with Toby to talk about transferable skills, everyday resilience and career progression across our contact centres.

Starting out as a professional cruise ship dancer, Toby shares how performing on stage taught him the adaptability and people skills needed for customer service. He walks us through his day to day role as a Communication and Support Coordinator at Radar Road in Leicester, connecting teams across Leicester, Doncaster and Pune.

From organising workplace events like International Tea Day to representing colleague voices as a Your Voice representative, Toby explains why embracing variety and keeping an open mindset helps you thrive at work.Whether you are starting out as a customer service advisor or looking to take your next career step, Toby shares thoughtful, practical advice on finding your confidence and making an impact.

0:00 Transferable Skills from Dance to Retail

1:03 Life as a Cruise Ship Performer

3:08 Learning Customer Service Resilience

5:06 Day in the Life: Communications Coordinator

7:19 Connecting Radar Road, Doncaster and Pune Teams

10:30 Creating a Positive Workplace Culture

14:55 Why Workplace Environment Matters

17:23 Overcoming Shyness and Building Confidence

20:00 Routine, Gym Consistency and Discipline

24:06 Being a Your Voice Representative

27:07 Advice for Career Growth in Customer Service

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with our latest episodes!

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#LetsTakeItOn

Discover how data engineering and AI are reshaping tech at NEXT, driving efficiency across our business and making coding accessible for all.

In this episode of the Life at NEXT podcast, we sit down with a BI Systems Developer to discuss the rapid growth of our technology teams, the practical applications of AI in data pipelines and how building a career in tech requires curiosity, continuous learning and collaboration.

From managing cloud infrastructure with tools like Data Bricks and Gemini to breaking out of the data bubble through internal hackathons, explore what it really takes to innovate at one of the largest retailers in the UK.

00:00 Introduction to Tech at NEXT

00:53 What Is Business Intelligence

02:02 Scaling AI and Efficiency

05:20 Role of a BI Systems Developer

07:11 AI Skepticism to Adoption

12:05 Cloud Data and Data Bricks

13:26 Hackathons and Cross-Team Collaboration

18:48 Hybrid Working and Team Culture

25:04 How to Build a Career in Data Engineering

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with our latest episodes!

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#LetsTakeItOn

Ever wondered what a finance career at NEXT looks like? Explore how the finance graduate scheme supports your move from university to a full time role.

In this episode of our podcast series, we chat with Rory, an Assistant Finance Analyst at NEXT. Rory shares his journey transitioning from university life and competitive swimming into the NEXT finance graduate scheme.

Discover what it is like to rotate across key financial departments, including stock finance, international accounts payable, cash accounting, and third party aggregators. Learn how early careers support helps you build broad industry experience, work on key business modernisation projects, and move the needle on international growth.

00:00 Introduction & Seeing Your Impact at NEXT

00:30 Transitioning From University to a 9-to-5

00:55 The NEXT Finance Graduate Scheme Structure

01:45 Key Rotations Across Finance Departments

03:00 Project Integration & Stakeholder Collaboration

04:14 Career Progression & Broad Finance Experience

05:09 Adapting to the Lifestyle Change After Uni

06:48 Competitive Swimming & Team Dynamics

08:40 Mindset & Key Strengths in the Workplace

09:23 Managing International Finance & Aggregators

11:30 Contributing to NEXT Financial Presentations

13:50 Early Careers Ambassadors & Workplace Support

15:00 Overcoming Challenges & Relocating to Leicester

16:24 Bringing a Fresh Perspective to Processes

17:16 Finance Modernisation & Utilising AI

19:25 How Data Tells the Story Behind the Numbers

23:36 Perceptions of Head Office vs Retail Stores

25:57 Advice for Future Finance Graduates

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What is it really like starting your career at NEXT? In this episode of Life at NEXT, we sit down with Beth (Trainee Buyer in Womenswear Dresses) and Oliver (Trainee Developer in E-Commerce) to talk about their early career journeys!From discovering that NEXT manages an in house tech team of over 1,600 people, to changing the button colours on a global website serving millions, Beth and Oliver break down the real responsibility trainees receive from Day 1. They discuss relocating to Leicester, staying at the 18 bedroom NEXT training house, making an impact as Early Careers ambassadors, and top interview tips for candidates looking to stand out.Whether you're interested in fashion buying, software engineering, or applying for graduate and placement schemes, tune in to see how our trainees take it on!00:00 Real Impact from Day 1 at NEXT00:53 Welcome & Introductions: Meet Beth & Oliver01:21 Describing Life at NEXT in 3 Words02:30 Perceptions vs. Reality: Did You Know NEXT Has an In-House Tech Team?03:44 Behind the Scenes of Womenswear Buying & Fit Teams04:30 How Beth & Oliver Joined NEXT (Placements & Applications)06:26 Beth's Journey: From Flower Markets to a First-Class Fashion Degree09:53 Life Experience & Reflecting on the Application Process10:51 What Does a Trainee E-Commerce Developer Actually Do?12:28 Changing the Website Shopping Bag (Global Impact!)13:06 Handing Over Responsibility to Trainees on Day 115:01 Community & Support: What is an Early Careers Ambassador?17:39 Why Become an Ambassador? Supporting New Starters & CV Tips18:51 Relocating to Leicester & Living in the NEXT Training House21:03 Support, Management & Fast-Paced Work Culture23:40 Life at Enderby Campus & Perks of the Job26:22 Top Application & Interview Tips for Graduates & Trainees28:04 Advice for Tech Applicants: Mindset Over Coding LanguagesDon't forget to subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with our latest episodes! Pursue your ambition and join the NEXT team → https://bit.ly/4APH6l1Follow us!Instagram: @lifeatnext TikTok: @lifeatnext Facebook: @lifeatnext LinkedIn: ‪@lifeatnext‬ #LetsTakeItOn

Discover the story behind the opening of our anchor store at Bluewater. In this special episode, we explore the scale, logistics, and cross functional effort required to process 80,000 units of stock and open this expansive retail space in just three weeks. From a decade long journey securing the location to introducing exclusive brand offerings like Seraphine, Rocket St. George, and Cath Kidson, we look at how design innovations from our Thurrock store shaped this destination space. We also celebrate our collaborative culture and career longevity, highlighting team members who have built their careers with us over decades, including Menswear Lead Gary as he approaches his 50 year service milestone. Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with our latest episodes! Pursue your ambition and join the NEXT team → https://shorturl.at/qbbyIFollow us!Instagram: @lifeatnext TikTok: @lifeatnext Facebook: @lifeatnext LinkedIn: ‪@lifeatnext‬ #LetsTakeItOn

Discover how the Charities department at NEXT collaborates with organiSations across the UK to deliver real community impact. In this episode, our guest, Livvi, shares how her dual role spans product collaborations and coordinating gifts in kind. Learn how menswear, childrenswear, home, and womenswear teams design items where 100% of profits go directly to charity partners, alongside how unsold stock is redirected to schools, shelters, and Women's Aid organisations. We also discuss raffle prize requests, partnerships with hospices like LOROS, and how all donation data is tracked for our annual Corporate Social Responsibility reporting. Explore community initiatives and careers at NEXT.Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with our latest episodes! Pursue your ambition and join the NEXT team → https://shorturl.at/XOUoMFollow us!Instagram: @lifeatnext TikTok: @lifeatnext Facebook: @lifeatnext LinkedIn: ‪@lifeatnext‬ #LetsTakeItOn

Discover how software engineering teams at NEXT use an AI first approach to build backbone retail systems.In this episode, we sit down with developer, Nabin, from our product technology team to explore how tools like GitHub Copilot, Google Gemini, and NotebookLM are used to create rapid interactive prototypes and reduce administrative tasks. We also discuss the journey of relocating from Kerala to Leicester, adapting to a new city, and how participating in our Sports and Social community helped build lasting connections across departments.

Discover how taking risks, embracing change and stepping out of your comfort zone can build a fulfilling 24 year career at NEXT.

In this episode, Assistant Operations Manager Tracy shares her 24 year journey within NEXT. From her early days in customer service and credit to training as a fitness instructor at 37, Tracy discusses the power of continuous learning, stepping out of your comfort zone and supporting your team. Learn how transferable skills, strong workplace culture and being brave can help you thrive in your career.

0:00 Embracing New Challenges

0:45 Welcome and Assistant Operations Manager Role

1:09 Tracy’s 24 Year Journey at NEXT

2:16 Customer Service Training and Personal Growth

4:12 Moving Departments and Taking on New Roles

6:10 Becoming a Fitness Instructor at 37

8:50 Bringing Fitness Lessons into Leadership

13:46 Managing Peers and Team Dynamics

18:26 The Supportive Culture at NEXT

22:37 Being Brave and Office Culture

29:06 Advice for Joining the NEXT Team

Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share to stay updated with our latest episodes!

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#LetsTakeItOn

Explore Finance at NEXT: From Data to Decision Making

Discover how finance at NEXT drives strategic decisions, data modeling, and commercial value across our business. In this episode, we dive into our collaborative culture, where teamwork and support take center stage.

In this video, we cover:

• The Four Pillars: Understanding Commercial, Operations, Total Platform, and Group finance.
• The Power of Storytelling: How we use data to craft narratives for stakeholders.
• Culture & Flexibility: Navigating post-pandemic autonomy and a modern workplace.
• Careers & Placements: Essential advice for students applying to our graduate schemes.

Key Career Tip: We "recruit for attitude" because technical skills can be trained. Learn how to highlight your unique selling points and bring a growth mindset to your application.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction to Finance at NEXT 1:30 - The Collaborative Culture 3:45 - The Four Main Pillars of Finance 6:20 - Storytelling Through Data 8:50 - Life After the Pandemic: Flexibility & Autonomy 11:15 - Advice for Placement & Graduate Applicants

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell to receive updates on everything Life at NEXT! 📣Pursue your ambition and join the NEXT team 🚀 https://shorturl.at/V2hvUFollow us!Instagram: www.instagram.com/lifeatnextTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@lifeatnextFacebook: www.facebook.com/lifeatnextLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/lifeatnext#LifeAtNEXT #LetsTakeItOn