What we’re all about

Starbucks Coffee Company purchases and roasts high-quality whole bean coffees and sells them along with fresh, rich-brewed, Italian style espresso beverages, a variety of indulgent treats and healthier food options, and coffee-related accessories and equipment -- primarily through its company-operated retail stores. Starbucks also sells whole bean coffees through a specialty sales group and supermarkets. Starbucks employs almost 123,000 partners in over 16,000 stores worldwide. In the UK & Ireland, more than 9,000 partners (employees) work in our 700+ stores and Chiswick, West London based Support Centre.

Inclusion + Equity + Accessibility = Diversity

Aside from extraordinary coffee, Starbucks has made a business out of human connections, community involvement and the celebration of cultures. And so, it’s only natural that as a guiding principle, diversity is integral to everything we do. The word “diversity” means many things to different people. We see diversity as “all the ways we differ and are the same.” This concept includes race, ethnicity, gender, culture, and physical ability but also issues like tenure, style, and our individual roles within the company. We're called partners, because it's not just a career, it's our passion. Together, we embrace diversity to create a place where each of us can be ourselves. And we always treat each other with respect and dignity.

Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm or just Saturdays?

As a high street retailer, Starbucks is well suited to support a variety of flexible working arrangements, from part-time hours to weekday only shifts, to working a full-time contract in a way that better suits your individual circumstances. We invest a lot in training our partners to do their job well, so it’s important to us to do our best to look for ways to accommodate them when situations change.

A special blend of benefits

Starbucks offers a competitive package of benefits to all its partners. We all have access to a global stock option programme, 25 days holiday, a pension scheme, 30% discount in store (on all beverages, food and merchandise), and a free bag of Starbucks coffee or box of Tazo tea each week. We’re about to introduce a store performance related bonus scheme for our hourly paid partners. Retail managers can earn quarterly bonuses based on achieving specific business objectives. We all have access to “Partner Life”, an on line support network providing advice and guidance across a range of personal and work issues.

Our Support Centre partners have some slightly different benefits, including a season ticket loan scheme, a flexible benefits scheme which allows partners to choose from a menu including private medical insurance, spa vouchers, gym memberships, travel insurance, dental insurance. And the best thing is that we’re in the middle of reviewing our benefits across the business, so more exciting things are on their way.  

What makes us special

If you were a part of the Starbucks family this year, here’s a snapshot of some of the things you could have been involved in: You could have joined around 1,000 other partners on Day 2 of our Leadership Conference who got involved in local community based activities across London including the Tower Hamlets Open Space project, the Hackney Parks project, the Lee Valley Park Bio-Diversity Project and the Thames 21 River and Waterways Project.

You could be helping us celebrate our 10 year relationship with Fairtrade, especially because it  means all of our espresso-based beverages are now 100% Fairtrade Certified. You might be working alongside a young person on a Prince’s Trust work experience placement. Or, you could be volunteering your time with the Prince’s Trust in a wide variety of other ways.  You could be sharing your love of reading with school children through our long standing relationship with the National Literacy Trust You could be representing your fellow partners on our Partner Blend team.

Our elected Partner Blend reps meet with senior managers at least 4 times each year, which means Starbucks hears what really matters to the partners who serve our customers each day.

Valued and Involved. That’s what Partner Blend means.

Working mum profiles

Maria Lipka, store manager
I’ve been a Starbucks partner for 7 years. I originally joined as a barista and am now the store manager in one of our Chiswick stores. When I returned from maternity leave a few years ago, I requested a transfer to a store that was closer to my home so I could manage my childcare better.  While I normally work an 8.30 to 4.30 shift so I can drop off my child at Nursery on the way to work, I am always available to work other shifts depending on the needs of the store and the District Manager.

I was delighted that Starbucks was able to support my return to work as a working mum – it’s made my life easier to manage, and meant I could continue my career with the company.

Sandy Middleton, HR manager
I’ve been a Starbucks partner for just over 9 years. In that time, I’ve had two children and Starbucks has been a fantastic support for my return to work on a part-time basis. After my first daughter was born, I came back to my job as a Support Centre based HR manager on a four day per week basis. When my eldest daughter started school last year, my manager was more than happy for me to adjust my flexible working agreement to better suit school hours. I now work five shorter days which actually allow me to better support my customers and my two direct reports.

Annabelle Turner, customer service co-ordinator
I originally joined Starbucks 3 years ago as a regional development manager in our B2B sales team. After having my daughter last year, I spoke to my manager about returning to work for 3 days a week. Rather than return to my field based job, I started a job share with a colleague in our sales support team located in our Support Centre (head office).

The set hours I work every day mean I can better manage my childcare, and I really enjoy being a part of an office based team. Coming back to work also meant I was able to enjoy some great benefits like a return to work bonus and a £75 retail voucher to treat myself with!