Life at Next

From trainee to assistant buyer in a single year, Mia shares her career journey at NEXT. Discover how early passion, hands on experience, and supportive product teams drive true progression within our Leicester head office.00:00 Seeing an Idea Become a Final Product00:50 Fast Progression in the NEXT Product Team02:08 Choosing a Career in Fashion Buying04:20 From Internship to a Full Time Buying Ro...

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 voca...

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 a...

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 lear...

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 r...

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 br...

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,...

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 st...

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 t...

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 a...

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...

Discover how fashion brand Bhoem combines startup agility with the scale and infrastructure of NEXT Group. In this episode, the team behind Bhoem shares how they brought a contemporary, European-inspired aesthetic to market in just eight months. Learn how operating with a lean, adaptable mindset while leveraging enterprise level logistics, warehousing, and platform tech allowed the team to focus o...

What does it take to manage a photo studio operation handling an average of 1,300 fashion samples every single week? In this episode of the Life at NEXT Podcast, we sit down with Head Office Studio Manager Zoe to discuss her 15 year career journey within NEXT. Marking the 10 year anniversary of our dedicated studio building, Zoe reflects on how our creative spaces have grown from a two person team...

How do you build a long term career from a four hour store contract into leading regional operations? In this episode of the Life at NEXT Podcast, we sit down with our Regional Loss Prevention Manager Laura to discuss her 12 year career journey at NEXT. Starting on the store floor before transitioning through local and regional security leadership, she shares how our loss prevention infrastructure...

Discover how taking ownership of your career and adopting an adaptive mindset can unlock huge opportunities within NEXT online technology. In this episode of our Life At NEXT podcast, Ben shares his journey over his first year in NEXT online technology. We explore the balance between personal discipline and professional growth, how search and AI are evolving within retail, and why taking ownership...

What does it take to run a large scale creative studio within a major retail brand? In this episode of the Life at NEXT podcast, we sit down with Sarah, Studio Production Manager, and Imran, Studio Creative Manager. Together, they manage a wide group of photographers, stylists, art directors, and logistics specialists across our studio network. Sarah and Imran reflect on their career journeys from...

Discover why there is no single path to a successful and fulfilling career. In this episode of the Life at NEXT Podcast, we explore the power of continuous learning, professional growth, and breaking through imposter syndrome. Hear from Tom, who built a thriving 17-year career without a university degree, demonstrating how taking internal opportunities and strategic side steps can lead to long ter...

Discover the invisible art that shapes the digital storefront of a major fashion and lifestyle retailer. In this episode of the Life at NEXT Podcast, we pull back the curtain on our studio team to explore the role of retoucher, Izzy. Learn how this dedicated team manages an enormous volume of product imagery, using technical precision to keep every photograph looking authentic, considered, and tru...

Discover how the massive scale of data operations moves behind the scenes at NEXT. In this episode of the Life at NEXT Podcast, we sit down with a data analyst who successfully transitioned from a four-year primary school teaching career into our Business Intelligence Systems (BIS) team. Learn how the BIS department acts as a central hub, managing millions to billions of rows of data daily to prov...

Discover how we are moving sustainability forward at NEXT through data-driven packaging choices and international legislative compliance. Go behind the scenes with our Sustainability team at Head Office as we explore the vital role packaging plays across our entire global supply chain. In this episode of the Life at NEXT Podcast, Sustainability Manager Josh breaks down the nuances of material sele...

Discover how the NEXT technology team grew from 300 to over 1,800 experts driving our global retail and website innovation. In this episode, we sit down with two members of our specialist technology team to explore the incredible evolution of their roles and the company culture that powers our digital growth. From our roots in traditional retail to managing a massive, sophisticated e-commerce plat...

Discover what it is really like to take on a tech placement at NEXT. From university applications to building real features, here is Hasham’s story. What does it take to stand out in a competitive tech industry? In this episode of the Life at NEXT podcast, we sit down with Hasham Shakir, a placement developer working within our e-commerce department. Hasham shares his journey of moving 4,000 miles...

Discover what happens behind the scenes of homeware photoshoots at NEXT. In this episode, Studio Planning Lead Sarah shares her nine-year career journey. Sarah shares her experience moving from a Trainee Merchandiser to leading the planning for our major home brands at the Buzz Studio. She explains the massive scale of our studio operations, how we collaborate with partner brands like Laura Ashley...

Discover what it means to be a leader at NEXT. From studying psychology to managing team dynamics and presenting on internal video channels, explore a 14-year career journey built on growth and connection. What does it take to guide a customer service team in a fast-paced environment? In this episode of the Life at NEXT podcast, we sit down with a Customer Service Manager to discuss transferable s...

In this episode, we sit down with Jo, our Charities Engagement Manager, to discuss the authentic and thoughtful approach to giving at NEXT. With a career spanning 20 years at the business, Jo provides a unique perspective on how we foster a culture of integrity and support. Jo shares how her team of four manages a wide range of initiatives, from local support for hospices in Leicester to internati...