With businesses facing higher taxes and labour costs, many have been holding back on recruitment. 

But the John Lewis Partnership is moving in the opposite direction, launching its biggest ever recruitment drive as it prepares for the busy Christmas shopping season. 

The retail group, which includes John Lewis and Waitrose, is hiring 13,700 seasonal workers to deal with an expected surge in demand from customers. 

The roles will include: 

• 3,000 across 35 John Lewis stores
• 8,500 at Waitrose shops
• Nearly 2,200 across its warehouses and supply chain network

Every year, the company recruits for temporary shop workers and logistics staff for the so-called golden quarter – the final three months of the year – and January sales period.

It said it was expecting 30 million visitors to John Lewis shops during that time, while its warehouses are set to dispatch more than two deliveries a second.

Current employees have missed out on an annual bonus for the third year in a row, however.

Earlier this year, chairman Jason Tarry said he was “determined” to reinstate the bonus payments for staff when the retailer was in a position to do so.

Seasonal jobs tend to be a great way for students to earn some extra cash as they usually fall outside term time. 

Sectors that have traditionally offered these kinds of roles, or part-time jobs, have been under particular strain, and some have cut back on staff.