Previous experience in a retail or cafe environment is advantageous, but training will be given.
The ability to deliver outstanding customer service.
Excellent communication skills.
A high level of organisational skills.
Familiarity with email and the internet.
A flexible approach towards working hours.
Ability to work within a team of employees and volunteers, as well as independently on occasion.
Proficient literacy and numeracy.
Knowledge of EPOS/till systems is advantageous.
Knowledge and experience of general administrative processes.
Willingness to undertake training and continuing professional development.
Ability to interact with a variety of people in a friendly, cheerful, sensitive, and effective way, adapting the approach to meet individual needs.
Ability to demonstrate inclusive behaviour, respect difference, and promote equality and diversity.
Responsibilities
Ensure effective operation of the retail outlet and maintain outstanding store standards while providing excellent customer service and maximising the shopping experience.
Welcome customers, inform them about specials or new products, answer questions, and accept orders and payments.
Prepare hot and cold drinks in the cafe.
Serve freshly made food such as cake, sandwiches, and pastries in the cafe.
Operate the till and undertake cash reconciliation as required.
Receive incoming deliveries, distribute and maintain stock, date-rotate stock as appropriate, and assist with regular stock checks.
Engage with volunteers, direct them, and lead by example to support a positive volunteer experience.
Maintain cleanliness, comply with health and safety and food hygiene standards, and keep all site areas tidy.
Push loaded stock trolleys for long distances when required.
Deliver objectives and deadlines dependably and complete tasks thoroughly and methodically.
Work accurately, check work, minimise risk, and adhere to policies and standards.
Collaborate with and support colleagues and volunteers, cooperating for the overall good.
Identify and respond to individual customer needs, provide professional service, and help keep people safe from harm.
Follow standards and instructions accurately and work productively with others.
Build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships through sensitive and effective interactions.
Set a positive example of inclusive behaviour and encourage participation in charity-wide inclusion activities.
Desired Qualifications
Previous experience in a retail or cafe environment.
Knowledge of EPOS/till systems.
Royal Voluntary Service has an opportunity available for a Retail Customer Assistant to join our team at RVS Cafe, Perth Royal Infirmary, PH1 1NX. You will join us on a part-time, fixed-term basis until 30 April 2027 and in return, you will receive a salary of £12.71 per hour (FTE £23,136 per annum).
About the Retail Customer Assistant role:
Royal Voluntary Service hospital cafes, shops and trolleys are part of the fabric of the NHS and a real asset in their own right. Staffed by employees and volunteers, we provide an outstanding range of beverages and healthy food choices. Our customers love the fact that the money they spend with us pays for volunteer action in hospitals and the community.
Working alongside a friendly team of employees and volunteers, you will participate in the day-to-day running of our busy retail site.
In this role, you will be responsible for:
Providing friendly, helpful and efficient service at all times
Welcoming customers, informing them about specials or new products, answering questions and accepting orders and payments
Operating the till and cashing up
Maintaining a high level of cleanliness complying with Health and Safety and food hygiene standards and ensuring all areas of the site remain tidy
Ensuring that all stock and displays are replenished regularly and ordering supplies if required
Hours: 5hours, worked across Monday - Friday.
Hours as scheduled by rota. Note that weekend work is a requirement for this role.
Our retail sites can be open on weekends and bank holidays.
There may also be opportunities for paid overtime in busy periods or to cover absence.
What you'll bring as our Retail Customer Assistant:
Working in a hospital requires a special kind of customer service. Your ability to communicate with a variety of people in a friendly and cheerful way will make a real difference to someone’s day. The key is to adapt your approach to each person to ensure their needs are met.
Responsibilities
This is what you'll be doing:
To ensure the effective operation of the retail outlet/s in maintaining outstanding store standards, whilst providing friendly, helpful, and excellent customer service to all customers, maximising a great shopping experience. Provide friendly, helpful, and efficient customer service at all times
Welcoming customers, informing them about specials or new products, answering questions and accepting orders and payments
Preparing hot and cold drinks (Café)
Serving freshly made food such as cake, sandwiches, and pastries (Café)
Operating the till and undertake cash reconciliation as required
To receive incoming deliveries, distribute, maintain, and date rotate stock as appropriate. Assist in the accurate completion of regular stock checks
Engage with volunteers to direct & lead by example to ensure they have a great volunteer experience
Maintaining a high level of cleanliness complying with Health and Safety and food hygiene standards and ensuring all areas of the site remain tidy
This role may involve pushing loaded trolleys of stock for long distances
This is how you'll be doing it:
Delivers Objectives
Strives to deliver what is expected or required of them and consistently meets objectives and deadlines. Is dependable and does not like abandoned tasks without seeing them through to the end. Work is often conducted in a thorough and methodical manner.
Quality Orientation
Pays attention, is precise, checks, and completes things Focuses on getting things right and seeks to ensure that decisions and solutions minimise risk. Adheres to policy and standards.
Team Working
Enjoys participating in group activities and likes to work with other people. Is ready to collaborate with and support others and is willing to cooperate and compromise for the overall good.
Service Delivery Focussed
Identifies and focuses on the individual needs and concerns of the customer or client. Engages and responds accordingly with a professional and high-quality service. Is committed to keeping people safe from harm.
Following Directions
Is motivated to accept and comply with standards and instructions and delivers accurately on what is promised or expected. Works productively in co-operation with, and support of, others.
Interpersonal Sensitivity Has the ability to interact with others in a sensitive and effective way. Respects and works well with others. Is able to build and maintain healthy relationships that are mutually beneficial. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Values difference and sets a positive example of inclusive behaviour in all interactions and promotes practices that celebrate equality and diversity in the workplace and the communities we serve. Is an active participant and encourages others to engage effectively with charity wide inclusion activities.
Requirements
This is what we're looking for:
Previous experience in a retail or cafe environment would be an advantage, but training will be given - just make sure you have a positive attitude and can-do mindset along with a willingness to work and we’ll teach you the rest
The ability to deliver outstanding customer service
Excellent communications skills
Demonstrates a high level of organisational skills
Familiarity with email and internet is required
A flexible approach towards working hours
Enjoying working within a passionate team of employees and volunteers, as well as working on your own on occasions
Can demonstrate a proficient level of literacy and numeracy
Knowledge of EPOS / till systems would be advantageous
Knowledge and experience of general administrative processes
A willingness to undertake training and continuing professional development
Benefits
This is all the other great stuff you'll be getting:
Salary of £12.71 per hour (FTE £23,136 per annum).
26 days’ holiday (pro rata) plus paid statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata)
Up to 2 days paid volunteer leave a year, through our employer supported volunteer scheme
Ten weeks’ company sick pay following successful completion of probation
A great pension scheme
2 x Salary Death in Service Benefit, subject to qualification
Enhanced Family Leave schemes
An employee benefits package that gives access to an exclusive rewards website to get discounts and cashback online
A 24-hour doctor line, financial support with dental/optical and other therapies
A free and confidential employee assistance programme with up to six face-to-face counselling sessions included
Extensive online and on the job training to ensure you will succeed in your role
Opportunities to discuss flexible working
Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
The chance to make a positive, lasting impact that changes lives, communities and society
If you feel have the skills and experience to become our Retail Customer Assistant please click ‘apply’ today, we’d love to hear from you!
If successful in your application for this role a DBS/PVG check will be made as part of your pre-employment checks.
This is the latest you'll be able to apply, providing we do not close to applicants early:
The closing date for this role is 6 November 2026. However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received. Please do not delay your application we often get a lot!
At Royal Voluntary Service our goal is to welcome everyone and build inclusive and diverse teams. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work. To find out more about our commitment to EDI, visit our website.
Join Royal Voluntary Service and together we can change lives, change communities and change society.
Other organisations may call this role Retail Assistant, Shop Assistant, Café Assistant, Store Assistant, Retail Sales Assistant, or Customer Service Assistant.