A Full-Circle Moment: Former M&S Temps Now Leading and Supporting New Starters
By Business Correspondent
Glasgow locals Linsey McGillivray and Beth McCready both joined M&S as teenagers on fixed-term Christmas contracts.
Today, with more than 40 years’ service between them, they hold management roles in Glasgow stores and are welcoming this year’s seasonal recruits.
In October, M&S announced more than 700 seasonal roles across Scotland, around 350 of them in the Glasgow area, with start dates running from November to just before Christmas.
Some of those new colleagues are joining teams led by Linsey at M&S Braehead and Beth at M&S Food Store in Kingsgate, East Kilbride — a full-circle moment for both managers.
Linsey first joined M&S Sauchiehall Street in 1999 at the age of 16, working on food tills over Christmas.
What began as a way to earn independence quickly became a long-term career. Over the years, she took on new responsibilities, supported major store openings and joined a management training programme. Today, she is Deputy Store Manager for Fashion & Home at M&S Braehead.
Reflecting on her journey, Linsey says it’s the people that make M&S special. She encourages seasonal colleagues to ask questions, share their ambitions and take advantage of the support available.
Beth joined M&S Braehead in 2008 aged 17, working late shifts while still at school.
She stayed with the business through university and progressed through management roles to become Store Manager at M&S Food Store in Kingsgate, East Kilbride, where she now leads a team of up to 115 colleagues.
Beth credits the supportive culture at M&S for her progression and says she’s built lifelong friendships along the way. This Christmas, her seasonal colleagues will support everything from tills to festive food orders.
Both managers agree that enthusiasm, curiosity and a positive attitude can open doors — just as they did all those years ago when they first joined as Christmas temps.
