Come and join our Family

Bents is our family business, now in our 3rd generation. Family to us means everyone who works here, as you really do join our Bents Family (& we are getting big with over 500 of us!).

All our roles can be found by following the link below, all you just need to click on the job title of the role that takes your interest to learn more exciting details about the role and apply online.

Can’t find the role that suits you? Not to worry, just keep an eye on this page and our social media channels, as we bob all our career opportunities on them straight away.

We hope you enjoy exploring if Bents is right for you and you want to be a part of our continued journey.

Click Here for Vacancies- https://careers.bents.co.uk

Our Purpose, Vision and Bents Ways are designed to provide all our colleagues joining our family with direction and an understanding of our shared ambitions.

Our purpose is why we exist, it’s the heart of everything we do, we believe if we live our Purpose and Ways we will achieve our vision together.  These are our purpose and vision.

A Family Business Grown For Generations

As a family business, we’ve never been ones to rest on our laurels. We’ve always followed our passions, taken chances and strived to innovate, which is exactly how it all started in 1937 when my parents Alfred and Margaret started growing and selling roses just yards away from where we are now. Little did they know that their passion for plants would be the start of something so unique and special.

As we celebrate our 80th anniversary we will be sharing our memories and remembering where it all began. We hope you will enjoy finding out more about our family business.

Ron Bent – Chairman

Our Roots

As Bents recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, it looks back on a long and happy history. It has always been a business which has followed its passions, taken chances and strived to innovate, which is how it all began in 1937 when Alfred and Margaret Bent started growing and selling roses in the front garden of their terraced house at 404 Warrington Road, Glazebury.

Word soon got round and it wasn’t long before their garden became the talk of the village and they started to sell some of their own roses further afield. Alfred experimented by growing his own rootstocks from rose hips collected from local hedgerows and also propagated apple trees and made a considerable contribution to the standardisation of their rootstocks.

After the war Alfred was advised by his doctor to take an outside job full time. It was this advice that marked the start of the Bents’ family business. In the early 1950s he bought 16 acres belonging to the Speakman House to begin growing on a larger scale, but trading remained difficult; in those days there were no such things as garden centres. Everything was planted in November to December or March to April and the money earned had to last all year round.

The Business Grows

During the 1970s, Ron, his wife Wendy and brother John expanded the business even further. As well as handling all the wages, Wendy also ran the wholesale Christmas company, establishing what would become one of Bents most successful and favourite times of year. Ron and John continued to expand the business and by 1980 a new shop had opened on the centre’s current location.

During the planning stages Ron suggested that food and drinks should be offered. At this time this was a totally unknown concept, that was mocked by some of our competitors, but unknown to Bents a new trend had been set!

In 1988 Ron and Wendy bought John out from the Business and John dedicated his time to creating Weeping Ash, the magical hidden garden located just next door. Although retired, John can still be found around and about the garden centre, when not tending to his magnificent two acre garden.

The business, under Ron and Wendy’s guidance, thrived and by 1995 underwent another expansion with additional space added on to the existing building.

It marked the first phase of a 10-year plan, which has since seen the expansion of our on-site nursery where we grow and nurture over 60% of our plants, as well as the opening of the award-winning ‘The Fresh Approach Restaurant’.

2001 – Present

Since 2001 the third generation of the Bents family – Matthew, Rachel, Helen and Katherine – has become involved in the running of Bents. As Managing Director, Matthew is always looking to pursue new initiatives and ensure Bents remains at the very forefront of the garden retail industry. He has already delivered one of the UK’s most innovative and progressive new garden centre buildings, our Open Skies Glass House, and is helping to shape the future of Bents with even more exciting initiatives.

As well as being mum to Oliver, Lucy, Thomas and Isabel, Rachel Bent is heavily involved in developing our award-winning Christmas displays; the planning of which is an annual 12 month project.

Having been fundamental in the planning and opening of the Fresh Approach Restaurant, Helen Bent directed the catering operation until June 2008. Head of Marketing, developing Bents’ marketing strategy for the Centre as a whole as well as looking after her four children William, Louis, Archie and Bella.

Katherine Bent, the youngest of Ron & Wendy’s children, set up and ran the HR department at Bents for 8 years before taking on the role of Head of HR, managing and developing the Bents’ HR strategy.  And with Katherine’s children Jacob, Isaac and Isla and Matthew’s sons Ethan, Elliot and daughter Erin, the fourth generation of the Bents family currently stands at 14, so we can rest assured that Bents will remain a family business for many more years to come.

At Bents, you’re not just joining our business, you are joining our Family.
At Bents we feel that people are at the heart of our family business and our colleagues are our key strength and point of difference.

We’d love to introduce you to our team and let our colleagues tell you about their journey.

Continually Investing in our Future

People are at the Heart of our Business

Glassdoor Reviews

Our core behaviours are really important to us as it through demonstration of these that we are able to strive towards our Vision.

During our recruitment processes, and when you are part of the family, we measure ourselves against these behaviours. We’ve included them below so you can understand what we look for and if you think you are good match.

We appreciate that you may have a number of questions about joining our family and what the process may look like, so we’ve helped by answering some in our handy FAQs.

I’ve found the perfect role and I’d like to apply quickly! Can I just email my CV?
We’d like to make sure that your application doesn’t get lost in cyber-space, that’s why we ask that all applicants apply through our tracking system. This means we can keep a close eye on the progress of your application, you get immediate updates from us and know where your application is up too. The recruitment tracking system is really quick and easy to use and should no more than 15 minutes to apply with your cv.

Do you have a paper application form I can use?
Unfortunately, we don’t accept paper based applications. All our roles are advertised and managed by our easy to use recruitment system online. We’ve found that this gives our candidates the best possible experience.

If you don’t have a cv there are lots of easy to use websites where you can create a cv for free using ready-made templates.

There are no suitable roles I can see that will suit me, what can I do?
Not to worry, just keep an eye on this page and our social media channels, as we bob all our current career opportunities on them straight away.

When is your application deadline?
We don’t always specify application deadlines as we will advertise positions until we receive sufficient applications. To avoid disappointment, we recommend applying as early in the process as possible.

I have applied to you; will I hear back about my application and when will this be?
Thanks for your application! We are committed to contacting all applicants to let them know the outcome as soon as possible; however, it’s difficult to give an accurate timescale. We’ll keep you updated on email, so make sure you check your emails regularly.

Can I get feedback on my application?
Yes! We are happy to respond to all applications that we receive and we are more than happy to provide feedback to applicants following interviews and assessments. If you would like specific feedback following an interview or assessment then please contact hr following the interview with the details outlined on the email.

Due to the volume of applications that we receive we’re unable to provide individual feedback to applicants at the initial application stage, however you will hear from us to inform you as to whether we are proceeding with your application or not.

If I am rejected for a role, when can I apply again?
Firstly, if you’re rejected for a role, please don’t take it to heart. We’ll always give you feedback on how the interview went if you wish to have it and how best develop your skills. If you would like to reapply, we will accept an application 6 months after your initial one was made.

I am really nervous about an interview – any tips?
It’s only natural – but try and relax. You’re bound to be nervous but honestly there is no need. We’re a really friendly bunch, just like a family and we’ll guide you through every stage of the process. If you are feeling a little nervous before your interview or assessment, don’t worry – once you get here, you’ll realise this is a warm and enjoyable place to be. And if you need any reassurance, we’re on hand to answer any questions.

Take a look at our ‘What to Expect at our interviews’ document as it will really help you during the interview / assessment centre process.

Who will conduct my interview?
Your interview will be conducted by the relevant Line Manager or Team Leader for the role you’ve applied for. There will also be a HR colleague there to support and help facilitate the interview/assessment centre.

When will I find out if I have got the job?
We will always feedback as soon as we possibly can – sometimes there might be a bit of a delay if we have multiple interviews to complete. We’ll keep you updated on timeframes when we meet with you.

Eligibility & right to work – what does that mean?
Anyone who would like to work in the UK needs to prove his or her right to work. When you come along for your interview we will ask you to bring in some relevant documents so we can verify your right to work which is usually your passport, your long birth certificate combined with evidence of your National Insurance number or a valid work visa. Please noted, an offer of employment cannot be made without your eligibility, so please don’t forget to bring it with you.

Do you have summer / Christmas vacancies available?
We start our Christmas recruitment in June each year as we’ll be super busy with our glittery Christmas stock arriving for Warehouse & Pricing Operatives. We then start our Christmas recruitment in August for roles to commence in September/October until January. We put all our adverts straight onto our careers website, so keep your eye on there and apply when you find your match.

I am under 16 and looking for a part time job, can I get a job at Bents?
Unfortunately, we are unable to employ anyone who is below the age of 16. If your school completes the national curriculum work experience programme then we may be able to offer you a placement in our store.

Can I do a work placement/work experience in store?
To ensure that we can really add value to people undertaking work experience with us, we currently offer a work experience programme for school students and we work in partnership with our college.

If you are a student and would like to arrange a work experience placement please contact Bents and speak to the HR team and inform them of the exact dates of your placement. Please note that whilst we support work experience wherever possible, it will depend upon the resources available to the store on the dates you require as to whether or not they can accommodate your request. Unfortunately, at peak times we can’t always support with work experience.

You’re thinking that you would like to come and join our family, but you’re not sure where to start? Cast your eye over our easy guides below. We’ve outlined each step you’ll take on your journey to Bents.

Without our colleagues we wouldn’t be where we are now so as a thank you, we provide our colleagues with a variety of rewards and benefits, take a look today.