Who, what
when, where
and how

Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question to ask? Want to know more? After a bit more detail? You've come to the right place.

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Working at B&Q

How can I find out more about working life at B&Q?

Visit Why B&Q to learn about what it means to wear the orange apron. To see what great rewards and benefits we offer our colleagues, go to What We Offer. And to explore what matters to us, read about our Community and Sustainability projects.

What rewards and benefits do you offer?

We’re proud of the brilliant rewards and benefits packages we offer our colleagues including our market leading pension scheme, 20% B&Q discount, a minimum of 6.6 weeks holiday (including bank holidays) and more. Click here to find out more.

Can I work at B&Q if I have tattoos, piercings or coloured hair?

Yes! We want you to be completely yourself at work. That’s why our dress code respects individual differences whilst also ensuring that colleagues are comfortable and safe.

Where can I find out more?

You can discover more about B&Q life on LinkedIn, IndeedGlassdoor and Instagram.

Help with job searching

How do I search for a job at B&Q?

Hit Search to see a full list of vacancies. There's a number of different options to filter your job search, such as location, contract type and department. Once you’ve found the role you’re looking for, just click ‘apply’.

How do I apply for a job?

We’re an online recruiter, so when you apply for a role you'll be asked for your details and invited to create a personal account. You'll be asked to log in to this account when you apply for any future roles. If you need any help in completing an application, please contact our recruitment team by emailing recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk.

What if I don't have the listed eligibility?

If you don’t have a valid eligibility to work document to bring to your interview, please contact your recruiter for further instruction.

Application queries

What should I consider before submitting my online application?

Make sure that you’ve included all information relevant to your application, uploaded your CV or LinkedIn profile, and included all your contact details. 

What do I do if I have an account but I’ve forgotten my password?

Once you’ve reached the login page, click ‘Forgot your password?’ located beneath the username and password boxes and follow the instructions. If you need any further help, please email our recruitment team at recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk.

Do you hire applicants on a visa?

Yes, on a Tier 1 or Tier 2 VISA that grants you the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately we cannot offer sponsorship.

Once I've submitted my application, when should I expect to hear from you?

Once we've reviewed your application, if you've met the criteria for that specific role you'll be contacted by either a Recruiter or a Store Manager, via email or phone, to talk about the role in more detail. Make sure you keep an eye on your emails and your phone.
For store roles, you should expect to hear back within 7 days, for Store Support Office roles you’ll hear back within 48 hours of submitting your application.

All about interviews

How should I prepare for a telephone interview?

We recommend you check out diy.com and the pages here on our careers website, to find out a bit about life at B&Q. You can also find us on LinkedIn, Indeed and Glassdoor. Popping into your local store’s also a good idea, it’ll help you get a feel for the place. Whilst you’re there, ask our colleagues what it’s like to work with us.

When it comes to the interview itself, make sure you’re in a quiet place. If you’ll be using your mobile, make sure you have good signal. If you require any reasonable adjustments to your telephone interview or any stage of the recruitment process, please drop us an email to recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk so we can help.

How long will the interview last?

Customer Advisor or Store Delivery Drivers interview in store
Usually, you’ll have a short telephone interview first to cover the basics. If successful, you’ll attend a face to face interview in store that lasts about 45 minutes.

Management interview in store
As above, but the interview will last up to 90 minutes.

Interview at our Store Support Office
Your interview will be around 60 minutes unless otherwise advised by your recruiter.

Where do I go when I arrive for an interview?

In store
When you arrive, head to the customer service desk where one of our colleagues will welcome you and point you in the right direction.

At our Store Support Office
Once you’ve arrived, head through the main entrance of the building to the reception desk where our receptionists will greet you, sign you in and let your interviewer know you’re here.

What happens if I can’t attend the interview?

We understand that things don’t always go to plan. If you can’t make your interview, contact your recruiter as soon as possible and they’ll confirm next steps with you.

What should I expect at the interview in store?

 

During your interview, you’ll be asked questions about your career experience and then questions around either business values or leadership signature (depending on the level of role your interviewing for) . If a task is involved, this will be discussed beforehand with your recruiter. You’ll also have time to ask the interviewing manager questions to gain a better understanding of who we are as a business and what our culture is like at B&Q. If you’re successful in your first interview, you may be invited back to a second stage interview for further discussion, depending on the complexity of the role.  

You can find more information about B&Q and our products on diy.com and learn more about careers at B&Q on this website.

Tip: Before your interview, think about qualities we’re looking for – providing great customer service, working as a team and having a strong work ethic. Think about how you might demonstrate these through past experiences, in your interview.

What should I expect at an interview based in the store support office?

During your interview, you’ll be asked questions about your career experience and values-based questions. If a task is involved, this will be discussed beforehand with your recruiter. You’ll also have time to ask the interviewing manager questions to gain a better understanding of who we are as a business and what our culture is like at B&Q. If you’re successful in your first interview, you may be invited back to a second stage interview for further discussion, depending on the complexity of the role.  

You can find more information about B&Q and our products on diy.com and learn more about careers at B&Q on this website.

What do I do if I need a reasonable adjustment made to my interview?

You'll be asked about reasonable adjustments during your initial phone interview, but please email us at recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk and ask what reasonable adjustments can be made, if you'd like to know prior to your phone call.

The selection process

After my interview, when should I expect to hear from you?

A recruiter will aim to call or email you within 48 hours of your interview taking place.

If unsuccessful, how long before I can reapply?

Our policy is to allow 90 days before you should reapply. This is to give you enough time to work on any feedback you‘ve been given, so that you’ll be better prepared next time round.

Store delivery drivers

I've seen you're recruiting for store delivery drivers, do I need experience to apply?

With many customers now favouring home deliveries, we’re adapting and recruiting for Store Delivery Drivers. To apply, you’ll need to be over 18, have held your licence for at least one year, have no more than 3 penalty points on your licence and be authorised to drive manual transmission vehicles. We’ll teach you the rest.

How do I apply to be a store delivery driver?

To apply, find your role on this site or contact your local store to ask if they’re recruiting.

Pride

Why is B&Q celebrating Pride?

Inclusivity is at the heart of our business. We are showcasing our support for Pride this June to let our colleagues and customers know that we are proud supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community, and that B&Q is a safe and inclusive place to work and shop.

What is B&Q doing for Pride?

To showcase to our customers we are proud supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community and are creating a safe and inclusive space to work and shop, we are changing our logo to include a rainbow ampersand during June. We are also delighted to be sponsoring Pride in Southampton, where our business is headquartered, this year. 

What has B&Q done to support the LGBTQIA+ community?

We are showcasing our support for Pride this June to let our colleagues and customers know that B&Q is a safe and inclusive place to work and shop. Inclusivity is at the heart of our business, which is why since 2018 we have partnered with leading LGBTQIA+ rights charity, Stonewall, as a Stonewall Diversity Champion, and have received a Rainbow Honours Award for our LGBTQ employee network. We are delighted to be sponsoring Southampton Pride this year, and through B&Q’s fundraising and support of the B&Q Foundation, we have awarded grants to a range of charities that support the LGBTQIA+ community. We strive to make our business as inclusive as possible and are always looking for new ways to do so.

Why have you decided to add pronouns to colleagues’ badges?

We have introduced the option to include pronouns on colleague name badges to ensure co-workers and customers alike know how they would like to be referred. We believe the addition of pronouns to badges helps foster an inclusive workspace.

Why does B&Q partner with Stonewall?

We believe that everyone should feel safe, welcomed, and free to be themselves in the workplace and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our colleagues. When looking for new ways to become as inclusive as can be, we decided to partner with Stonewall, the leading LGBTQIA+ rights charity, as they were the perfect fit. The team at Stonewall has equipped us with the tools we needed to meet the needs of our diverse workforce and empower LGBTQIA+ employees to thrive. Since our partnership began in 2018 we have received a Rainbow Honours Award for our LGBTQ employee network and are Stonewall Diversity Champions.

What is it that B&Q are doing that means that you are not just 'pink washing’?

We acknowledge other industries have made significant progress in terms of inclusive workplace culture compared to the construction and DIY sectors. That is something that we are committed to addressing and we strive to do more as a business to ensure all B&Q colleagues and customers can feel comfortable to be themselves. For those reasons, on top of our ongoing partnership with Stonewall to foster a safe working space for all, this Pride month we are changing our logo and sponsoring Southampton Pride, as well as introducing optional badges that include preferred pronouns.

Why has B&Q only chosen to change its logo this year?

Inclusivity is at the heart of our business, which is why since 2018 we have partnered with leading LGBTQIA+ rights charity, Stonewall, as a Stonewall Diversity Champion. We strive to make our business as inclusive as possible and are always looking for new ways to do so, which is why we are delighted to be sponsoring Southampton Pride for the first time this year. To support this activity our new logo will be in place throughout June.