Marks & Spencer is beefing up its digital transformation by hiring nearly 100 new tech specialists as part of its ‘MS2’ initiative, which aims to put its website at the heart of the business.
The retailer is looking for 70 software engineers and 15 ecommerce traders to continue its overhaul, which has already seen online sales jump 34% over the past six months.
M&S chief technology officer Mike Yorwerth said: “The rate of change at M&S is accelerating and under MS2, we’re dedicated to transforming into the digital-first, market-leading retailer we know we can be – truly pushing technology from our web stacks to machine learning, as far as possible.
“This work is in the hands of some seriously impressive developers – a diverse group of the most empowered engineering teams anywhere in the UK and we’re so pleased to be growing this team as we drive online growth post the pandemic.
“Great advances are being initiated and delivered by our tech teams week after week to make changes for our customers, colleagues and the communities we serve and we’re looking for new recruits who are passionate about developing both M&S and themselves.”
In March, the company revealed plans to launch 46 new websites to target overseas markets from Argentina to Uzbekistan, as it looks to international sales to reverse its flagging UK fortunes.
While John Lewis has scrapped its international division at the beginning of the year, the move sees M&S expand its online reach to more than 100 countries, offering M&S clothing and homeware.
It has also joined a coalition of major organisations focused on getting working-age adults across the UK equipped with essential digital skills for life and work. M&S joins Accenture, Asda, BT, Good Things Foundation, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, Nominet, and PwC among others.
Meanwhile, late last year the retailer expanded its data academy to make training more accessible to all staff with the launch of a new entry-level Data Technician course, designed to teach employees how to manipulate and scrutinise data and then translate that into valuable insights.
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