Employee Welfare Timeline - M&S Archive

  • Home
  • About
    • About the Archive
    • Archive Policies
    • Archive Team
    • The M&S and University of Leeds Partnership
  • Contact
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Group Visits
    • Learning Visits
    • Family Visits
    • Community Visits
  • Collection
    • About the Collection
    • Research
    • Reading Room
    • Archive Catalogue
    • Digital Archive
    • Donate to the Collection
  • Discover
    • Timelines
    • Online Exhibitions
    • Films
  • Learning
    • Schools
    • Home Educators
    • Families
    • Higher Education
    • Community
    • Past Projects
  • What’s On
    • Exhibition
    • Events
    • Sparky Saturdays
    • M&S Heritage Trail
    • News

Timelines

Home // Discover // Timelines // Employee Welfare
Back to all timelines

Employee Welfare

Download this timeline
1884
1909
1918
1933
1933
1934
1934
1936
1937
1939
c1940
1940s
1940s
1940s
1953
1957
1965
1976
1980s
1995
1999
2004
2006
2007
2012
2011-2017
2017
2017
2019
2020
2023
2024
Oldham Street store team, Manchester 1898
Zoom

1884

As Michael Marks expanded from his first market stall in Leeds, opening stalls in other market towns, he employed female assistants to staff the stalls.

He put up wooden platforms for the women to stand on in the market halls so that their feet wouldn’t get cold, shared food and gave them Christmas presents.

As he started to move from market stalls to Penny Bazaar shops, he provided gas rings on which the assistants could heat their lunches.​

Bedford store team, 1909
Zoom

1909

The first official staff training role was given to a Miss Gibbs as ‘travelling manager’. Her role was to train a number of assistants to become staff manageresses as the positions came available.

 

Harrogate store team, 1929
Zoom

1918

The first recorded Long Service Award was given.

A colleague who had worked for the company for 25 years was given a gold watch and a cheque for £200.

Flora Solomon
Zoom

1933

Simon Marks met Flora Solomon at a dinner party – she was interested in the welfare of M&S colleagues and challenged him to do more for his staff.

Employees at Dymchurch Holiday Camp, 1930s
Zoom

1933

Flora Solomon established the new, revolutionary M&S Staff  Welfare Service.

Under her guidance, the Service introduced a health and dental service for colleagues, camping holidays, subsidised staff canteens, hairdressing, sports clubs and colleague rest rooms.

The welfare scheme became one of the best examples of staff welfare in the UK.

Training document, 1930s
Zoom

1934

A Training Department was created.

In an article in the company magazine, Flora Solomon asserted that ‘training for the job is an essential part of any welfare scheme’.

First ‘Sparks’ magazine, 1934
Zoom

1934

‘Sparks’ was launched as a colleague magazine.

It gave an overview of colleague activities, reports on company news and created a collective colleague community.

M&S Pension booklet
Zoom

1936

An M&S pension scheme was introduced alongside the M&S Benevolent Trust, which provided retirement benefits for those people outside the pension scheme.

25 Year Long Service booklet
Zoom

1937

The Long Service Awards were officially launched.

During this year 29 colleagues completed 25 years’ service and were invited to Head Office for lunch and a cocktail party. The ladies were given a silver coffee service, and the men a gold watch.

M&S colleague chiropody service
Zoom

1939

Chiropody services were provided for colleagues at subsidised prices. Chiropody was charged at the rate of one shilling per foot!

Alongside our health and dental services, this helped M&S to care for colleagues’ health, a decade before the creation of the NHS.

Sparks magazine, Summer 1937
Zoom

c1940

‘The Rules of Health’ was a booklet produced by the Staff Welfare Department promoting healthy living, including advice on food, care of the body, clothes and medicines, as well as information on National Health Insurance.

Bognor Regis team, 1940
Zoom

1940s

Before the war broke out there were 465 trainee male managers at M&S after the war started there were just 17.

Enlistment meant that more women were given new opportunities and were being promoted to management level, working alongside men in making management decisions.

Ealing Cafe bar, 1940
Zoom

1940s

Flora Solomon was the driving force behind the government sponsored British Restaurant system, which provided cheap, hot and nourishing meals for people disadvantaged by the war, including M&S colleagues.

In 1946 Flora was awarded the MBE for her welfare services.

Job advert, 1944
Zoom

1940s

During the war M&S continued to promote women in the workplace.

This 1940s job advert shows how M&S placed value on women as an important part of the workforce.

St. Michael News, June 1953
Zoom

1953

Colleague magazine St Michael News was introduced.

The magazine included details of current M&S products and fashion trends, as well as information on stores and colleagues.

M&S staff handbook, c1950s
Zoom

1957

By 1957 over £35 per person was committed to staff welfare per year. Over £800,000 was spent on staff quarters, subsidised meals, health services and sport and social opportunities.

M&S colleagues, 1971
Zoom

1965

M&S introduced free cervical screening for women over the age of 35, extended to women over the age of 25 in 1967.

Screening was not yet available on the NHS.

Mobile breast screening unit, July 1976
Zoom

1976

M&S became the first company in Europe to introduce a mobile breast screening unit which visited stores nationwide.

Female colleagues were still able to access this service for free at a younger age than was available on the NHS.

M&S Leeds slimming club, 1984
Zoom

1980s

During the 1980s slimming clubs were set up to help M&S colleagues develop a staff community around healthy living.

Family Care Policy booklet, 1995
Zoom

1995

A new Family Care Policy was launched to help support colleagues with family and caring priorities.

It included longer maternity leave and also paternity leave, part time work options and dependency leave.

Pregnant employees, 1999
Zoom

1999

M&S was selected as the flagship company for a leading UK charity on pregnancy health.

We were selected for our pregnancy accreditation programme, excellent working conditions and policies for pregnant colleagues.

Marks & Start logo
Zoom

2004

The Marks & Start initiative is the biggest company led work experience programme in the UK and Ireland.

Marks & Start helps disadvantaged people who may be disabled, homeless, lone parents or young and unemployed to find work experience placements to help them into long term employment.

Employee at work, 2006
Zoom

2006

M&S was voted one of the top 50 places to work in the UK in the Best Workplaces Awards 2006.

We also received a special award for commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, especially for the success of the Marks & Start scheme.

Plan A, 2007
Zoom

2007

Plan A was launched and included the award winning Your Plan A Wellbeing website offering free health and lifestyle advice, access to healthcare services and health challenges.

Today M&S colleagues can also access a free physiotherapy service, free confidential 24/7 helpline and counselling and access to an in house occupational health service.

Your M&S, 2012
Zoom

2012

In 2012 M&S was named Responsible Retailer of the Year at the World Retail Awards 2012 for the third time (previously in 2011 and 2007).

The award was given to M&S as a company which delivers ‘world class standards of best practice in corporate responsibility‘, this included the way that M&S engages with its employees.

The Times, 2017
Zoom

2011-2017

We’ve been recognised in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women since 2011 and were one of only a few retailers to achieve this.

M&S has worked to drive gender balance at management levels, including the M&S Inspiring Women Network.

Be Yourself
Zoom

2017

2017 saw the first anniversary of our Be Yourself campaign aimed at celebrating colleague individuality.

We also recognised National Inclusion Week and World Mental Health Day. Our diversity and wellbeing teams joined forces to encourage people to talk openly about issues that are sometimes hard to approach.

Buddy Network
Zoom

2017

The Buddy Network was established with the aim of giving colleagues with health conditions the chance to share their journeys and support each other’s wellbeing. The group meets regularly for Coffee & Chat sessions.

Pride, Cardiff 2019
Zoom

2019

Our LGBTQ+ network helped M&S celebrate Pride events across the country, with store windows decked out to match our ‘Be Yourself’ theme.

Groups of M&S colleagues took part in Pride parades in London, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester, Chester and Liverpool.

Working safely, 2020
Zoom

2020

Throughout the COVID 19 pandemic, we supported colleagues in all sorts of ways, from managing pay for self isolating colleagues, supporting furloughed colleagues and providing equipment to support safe working.

Neonatal leave, 2023
Zoom

2023

We announced our new Neonatal Leave which gives extra support to families of premature babies, including up to 12 weeks paid leave for parents whose baby requires specialist neonatal care.

Family leave, 2024
Zoom

2024

As well as an £89m investment in UK retail pay to at least £12 per hour, in line with the Real Living Wage, we announced significant improvements to UK maternity, paternity and adoption leave policies to support colleagues through life’s big moments.​

This included being one of the first retailers to introduce six weeks’ paternity leave at full pay (previously two weeks at full pay), while also almost doubling our maternity and adoption leave to 26 weeks – also at full pay – equating to a £5 million investment annually.​

You may also like

A colour image of an illustration of the Earth.

Corporate Social Responsibility

M&S doing the right thing since 1884.

Colour image of blue packaging for hooks and eyes.

The M&S Story

Discover the remarkable story of Marks & Spencer.

Black and white image of a formal staff photo.

Colleague Uniform

Looking sharp on the shop floor for over 140 years.

View all our timelines

Be first to hear about our upcoming events

Join the mailing list

Information and links

Location

M&S Archive
Michael Marks Building
University of Leeds
LS2 9LP

Opening hours

The Archive will be closed for the Bank Holiday from Friday 18th, re-opening Tuesday 22nd April
Monday-Friday and second Saturday of every month
10am-4pm
Bank Holidays - closed

Contact us

Email: archive@mands.com

Tel: 0208 7182 800

Social networks

Facebook Twitter

Visit

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Group Visits
  • Learning Visits
  • Family Visits
  • Community Visits

Collection

  • About the Collection
  • Research
  • Reading Room
  • Archive Catalogue
  • Digital Archive
  • Donate to the Collection

Discover

  • Timelines
  • Online Exhibitions
  • Films

Learning

  • Schools
  • Home Educators
  • Families
  • Higher Education
  • Community
  • Past Projects

What's On

  • Exhibition
  • Events
  • Sparky Saturdays
  • M&S Heritage Trail
  • News

About

  • About the Archive
  • Archive Policies
  • Archive Team
  • The M&S and University of Leeds Partnership
Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction

Copyright © 2025 Marks and Spencer plc (UK)

The Registered Office of Marks & Spencer, Marks and Spencer Group plc, Waterside House, 35 North Wharf Road, London, W2 1NW. Telephone: 020 7935 4422. Registered number: 4256886. Place of registration: England and Wales.

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Accessibility | Modern Slavery Statement

Website by Castlegate IT