Sports Direct Jobs

With over 470 stores and over 11,000 employees across the world Sports Direct is the leading sports fashion retailer in the United Kingdom. 

Sports Direct Jobs are very popular with students and school leavers with the majority of the sales assistant positions filled by under 21 year olds. There are many different job opportunities available at Sports Direct from Sales Assistant vacancies on the shop floor to regional director jobs around the United Kingdom as well as internationally where Sports Direct or one of the company’s subsidiaries operates in.  

In this section we at Search Local Jobs have done all the research for you, we will discuss in depth on the company’s history, current financial situation (you don’t want to work for a sinking ship!), employment benefits (i.e. training, standard benefits, holidays) and the job application process as well a Sports Direct Job Application Form. 

Did You Know? 

The company are listed on the London Stock Exchange (under LSE: SPD) and are also a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.  

Sports Direct History and The Founder 

The company was founded in 1982 by Mike Ashley who also owns Premier League side Newcastle United Football Club. Mike Ashley opened his first sport retail store in 1982 under the name of Mike Ashley Sports which opened its doors in Maidenhead. 1984 saw Mike open his second store under Preston Sports in London. By the early 1990’s the company had around 12 registered outlets. 

Mike Ashley’s Business expanded quickly but the company was still registered as a sole trader business so the businesses is finances remained private with competitors not having a clue as to what the company was making. 

In 1995 the company went through a rebranding faze with all the companies being renamed to Sports Soccer in 1995 and 1996. In the same year the company relocated its head quarters and warehouse to a new state of the art 100,000 square foot warehouse in Dunstable.   In line with the company’s rapid expansion plans the Donnay Brand was acquired in the same year with the total number of stores operated reaching over the 50 mark. 

Did You Know? 

Search Local Jobs have all the latest Sports Direct Jobs from around the United Kingdom! With new vacancies being added as soon as they become available or if there is not a Sports Direct Job currently available in your city or town why not fill in the Sports Direct Job Application Form (more details available below) and hand it into your nearest store. 

By 2000 the company had over 80 stores around the United Kingdom and took its first steps in the same year to try its feet in new waters, the company went into a business partnership in Belgium with around 22 stores operating under the Disport name. The company continued to expand in the twentieth century by acquiring Lillywhites and the very popular Lonsdale Brand. By 2003 the company operated 150 stores. 

2004 saw the company acquire the following brands: 

·         Carlton 

·         Karrimor 

·         Slazenger 

·         Dunlop 

And in 2005 the company continued to acquire further brands with new additions including: 

·         Campri 

·         LA Gear 

·         No Fear 

·         Title 

·         Vooodo Dolls 

The company also signed a lucrative deal with worldwide brand Umbro that gave the business access to their stock in Sports Direct stores. Though most recently the business has been acquired by American super sports brand Nike. 

In same year the company again went through a rebranding faze with the new name as Sports World. 

2006 saw the company for the second time relocate its head quarters and warehouse from Dunstable to Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire. In the same year the company also acquired Kangol, Hargreaves, Gilesports, Streetwise and Original Shoe Company bringing the company’s total store portfolio to around 476. 2006 was very important year for the business with newspapers and media outlets reporting rumours of a possible flotation of the Sports World on the London Stock Exchange, the rumours became more concrete when Mike Ashley brought in American firm Merrill Lynch a wealth Management business who valued the company at £2.5 Billion. The rumours were proven right finally in 2007 when the company was floated onto the London Stock Exchange. 

Current Direct Competitors “Nationally” on the UK High Street: 

·         JD Sports (12.3% stake is owned by the Sports Direct Group) 

·         JJB Sports (2^nd largest sports fashion retailer in the United Kingdom after Sports Direct overtook them in 2008) 

Did You Know? 

The Sports Direct group have a 12.3% holding in the John David Group the parent company of JD Sports. 

Countries the SportsDirect.com Retailer Operates in: 

·         United Kingdom 

·         Ireland 

·         Netherlands 

·         Belgium 

·         Luxembourg 

·         Slovenia 

The company also has a franchising agreement in South Africa and the Middle East. 

Sports Direct Jobs + Benefits, Values and More  

Sports Direct offer a number of opportunities at their high street stores as well as their headquarters and Warehouse in Nottinghamshire.  

Casual Sales Assistant Jobs at Sports Direct Benefits 

If you are looking to work for Sports Direct as a Sales Assistant then here is a list of the standard set of benefits you can expect to gain by working for one the largest Sports Fashion retailers in the United Kingdom. 

You can receive the following benefits: 

·         Set £6.00 per hour

·         Flexible Working Hours for Parents

·         Switch between local stores when at school

·         The opportunity to work full time if you decide you want a career in retail

·         15% Staff Discount

Download The Sports Direct Application Form 

The Sports Direct Job Application Form can be downloaded from Search Local Jobs, once you fill in the job application form and either post or give it into your local Sports Direct Store if or when a job vacancy becomes available that matches your skills and experience you will be called in for a interview with the recruiting manager and/or team leader. 

Remember Sports Direct don’t ask for someone who has existing experience in the retail sector so this is a ideal job placement for school leavers and teens who are still at school or college.  

Contact Sports Direct Jobs 

Interested in working for Sports Direct? You can either email or phone Sports Directs internal recruitment department on one of the following contactable methods: 

·         Email: careers@sportsdirect.com

·         For Jobs and Information: 0845 1299 200

Good luck in your hunt for Sports Direct Jobs remember we also have dedicated sections for other Sports Fashion retailers here in the UK including JD Sports as well as JJB Sports, so go and see if they have jobs in your local area.

Don’t worry if there aren’t any jobs currently being advertised at your local store, just download the Sports Direct Application Form, fill it in and send it into your local Sports Direct store.