Job title: Group director of human resources
Company: NBTY Europe (Holland & Barrett, Julian Graves, GNC, Nature’s Way)
Sales: £415.7m HQ: Warwickshire
Number of employees: 6,000


Why is NBTY a good employer? We invest heavily in our people. All retail employees have the opportunity to attend a minimum of two courses that are tailored to each brand and enable them to advise our customers how to get the very best out of the products they choose.

Regular training is supplemented by fortnightly training updates on new products, product changes, seasonal lines and promotions. We have developed a People Plan that has highlighted the talent we have in our business and we have put in place a structured programme to develop future middle managers internally instead of from outside the organisation.

What's the best thing about working there? Having customers return with their stories of how much better they feel after taking our advice and putting it into practice. The satisfaction this gives our store associates is immense.

Does the company offer any unusual benefits? We pay commission to all retail store associates, we take our associate, supervisor, manager, area sales manager and regional sales manager of the year on an-all-expenses-paid holiday of a lifetime in New York, we have a fully subsidised Christmas meal for all associates (including weekend associates) and double discount weeks on top of existing promotions.

How does the company differ from its rivals? We do not rely on merchandising to promote our products. It is the interaction between our people and their customers that provides the difference that we have over and above any of our rivals. We are vertically integrated and source the majority of our vitamin products internally so we are very clear about their integrity and quality

If the company were a car what would it be and why? A Jaguar. Traditional, exciting, current.

Are you looking for any people right now? We are always looking for good people. Even if we do not have a role available, we like to know who is available for when we do. We proactively build a candidate bank of preferred people. Currently we are looking for buyers at both junior and category level as a result of our continuing growth as well as a PR manager. Additionally we have a few store manager positions.

What tips would you offer jobseekers? Be very clear about the role you are looking for and why you think you are right for it. We see many applications that do not directly relate to the individual's skills and knowledge. Tell us also what you can bring to us and think broadly about that include any voluntary work and any fundraising events you have been involved with, especially if you are seeking your first job.

Is the company working on anything exciting right now? We are still opening new stores, and our online offer is being improved.

Topics