Posted by on July 14, 2022 under Articles
You may have seen the term ‘Partner’ a lot when hearing about the John Lewis Partnership. But what does it mean exactly?
Put simply, when we refer to Partners, we’re referring to all of those who work in the John Lewis Partnership, our employees. In April 1950, our founder, Spedan Lewis, signed the Second of two Trust Settlements which effectively gave the Partnership to the people who work in it. Transferring all his remaining shares and his ultimate control to the trustees (employees). An incredibly radical way of building a business in the 50s. So unique in fact, we remain the biggest co-owned business in the UK to this day.
From an early age, Spedan believed in a unique kind of business. Not only one that was co-owned but one that also sought to make a difference in the world.
“Kindness of heart is extremely desirable. The Partnership was created wholly and solely to make the world a bit happier and a bit more decent.” John Spedan Lewis – Founder
“Kindness of heart is extremely desirable. The Partnership was created wholly and solely to make the world a bit happier and a bit more decent.”
Fast forward to today and Our Purpose remains at the heart of our business. In 2022, Our Purpose was refreshed and now plays an even more fundamental part in our business decision-making. In short, our decisions have to be aligned to our 3 principles; Happier People, Happier Business, Happier World.
Today, Our Purpose is written:
Working in Partnership for a happier world
Our Partnership is an ongoing experiment to find happier, more trusted ways of doing business, for the benefit of us all. We work together to create a successful business and a fairer, more sustainable future for Partners, customers, suppliers and communities.
Our Partnership is owned entirely in trust by Partners which means we are more than employees; we share knowledge, power and profit.
Our Purpose inspires our principles, drives our decisions and acts as our guide.
To work towards a happier world and business, we first start with happier people. That means Partners enjoy worthwhile and satisfying work in a supportive environment which we all help to create. To ensure this happens, we work to these principles:
So, by joining the Partnership you truly are joining a different kind of business. Co-owned and Purpose-led. Our democratic bodies ensure every Partner’s voice is heard and we all work together, in Partnership, to deliver on our Purpose.
We’re home to two of the most loved brands in the UK (John Lewis and Waitrose) and with this, there is a huge variety of job opportunities (and not just in retail) for you to consider. With locations right across England, Wales and Scotland, we have opportunities in:
Partner happiness also comes in the form of the incredible Partner benefits available once you’ve been in the Partnership for 3-months. Benefits such as:
What next?
Being part of a truly purpose-led business is extremely special. Knowing that as Partners, we’re making a positive difference in the communities we live in and around the world is an inspiring goal that drives us forward. Add that to the fact that the John Lewis Partnership is co-owned and you can whole-heartedly believe that the Partnership is a great place to work.
If the opportunity to become a Partner sounds like something you’re interested in, find out more at www.JLPjobs.com and search for jobs at https://www.jlpjobs.com/search-jobs/ to start your journey to finding your happier.
#findyourhappier #drivenbypurpose
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