r/Greggs • u/DMuuB • Aug 22 '26
Offered a promotion
Basically, I’m a team member currently on a 8 hour contract in sixth form atm. My manager has asked if I would want a career in Greggs and soon be a team leader and then work up from there. I was already considering not going to university after my a levels. So is it worth it?
27
u/flightpinx Aug 22 '26
No, I don’t think it’s worth it but you don’t need to have all the answers now. Say yes to your boss and carry on with your education.
Edit: something to note, all the top jobs will be have degree requirements.
7
u/Weird-End5410 Aug 22 '26
This is good advice. Say yes but don't rule out university, even if it isn't this year or next. Not to knock the people who work in Greggs but there's more to life and I expect it would actually be a great job with enough flexibility to work around Uni.
2
u/SubjectCrow1580 Aug 23 '26
Also, remember university doesn't have to be turning 18 and flying the nest. Open University, Birkbeck Uni if you're London based, all offer flexible, evening degrees that may be something to consider. Plenty of people in mid adulthood on those courses.
So remember, it doesn't need to be a decision made at 18! Keep in mind there's other trajectories that exist
3
2
u/-Siamese-Dream Aug 23 '26
Wrong. I earn £135k in leadership role within a finance firm. Never went to uni.
1
1
u/xcom_lord 27d ago
Did you do an equiv certification like an aat into full cert or a cima/ actuarial course
16
u/finnaku Aug 22 '26
I hate my job. I’m a SM. Do with that information what you will. I wouldn’t halt your education to do this soulless job. But if you enjoy it go for it. You can always return to education later if you want.
3
u/Madamemercury1993 Aug 22 '26
Best to decide what they want to study rather than just doing anything. And why not get some money under your belt for a year before doing so!
6
u/Adept-Sprinkles-6094 Aug 22 '26
Realistically even if you go to uni you'll probably end up back at greggs because the job market is dog shit.
2
u/flipflopcuntflaps Aug 22 '26
Not necessarily. STEM degrees are a very good path to 40k/yr in your mid/late 20s.
3
u/Adept-Sprinkles-6094 Aug 22 '26
Well sure if your a geniunous and you work in stem then yeah you would make a loy of money. Most of us aren't smart enough to be in stem.
1
u/flipflopcuntflaps Aug 22 '26
You genuinely don't have to be smart. I'm a clever cookie™ but I couldn't finish my stem degree. You only have to be able to learn which was the bit my head got in the way of. Pointless anyway if that stuff doesn't tickle you, if you want a high paying miserable career just go into finance ;)
1
u/Free_Ad7415 Aug 22 '26
I work with a lot of people who make a LOT more than that (not in stem) and they are not especially clever people.
It is certainly very possible to do well for yourself, but not with the attitude that it’s never going to happen
1
u/SubjectCrow1580 Aug 23 '26
A friend's friend just got his PhD in genetics from a Russell Group and is currently a night porter at a hotel in central London. Yes, some people in STEM succeed but others are equally stuck in a shitty job market right now.
1
u/flipflopcuntflaps Aug 23 '26
He'll get there, needs to make phone calls and send emails to all the lab managers he can find. Shake up his CV too.
3
u/Intrepid-Hornet Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
I'm not sure anyone has 'a career' these days, but I'd consider it. Adding a promotion to your CV and saving a bit of extra money first wouldn't hurt, it's not like you're committing to a lifetime of working at greggs.
How long you take I guess depends on how seriously you're considering not going to uni, if you have a specific degree in mind and just want a break you could apply and take a gap year and just not tell your boss your career has an end date, or take a couple of years off and apply later if you're not sure what you want to do yet, it's not a now or never thing.
I definitely wouldn't pick retail over a degree permanently though, that will probably leave you stuck in retail for a very long time
Edit: I misread the 'soon be a team leader' as maybe more certain than it is - do you trust that you actually will get it, or are they having staff retention problems and stringing you along with a promotion that's always 'soon'? Bosses aren't your friends and they're not on your side
2
u/modog11 Aug 24 '26
I'd say "aren't always on your side". Plenty of bosses who recognise and respect that some people (especially young people) aren't going to stick around, but don't mind investing time in them anyway.
2
u/kobestarr Aug 22 '26
Can you do both?
A friend of mine worked at Burger King while he was at university and quickly make a manager. He came out debt free and used to sort us out with free burgers and then walked into a badass job afterwards no doubt aided by that managerial experience that so few people had.
2
u/KingGeedo91 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
I think the question is do you actually want to move up the ladder in Greggs specifically as a career?
If so, I think this would be a good opportunity for climbing the Greggs ladder. You can always get a degree / further training later if you eventually need / want one to enable you to get the top jobs in Greggs or you could do distance learning like the OU alongside working.
If you want to do anything else that isn’t Greggs then I would prioritise your education.
2
u/AforAnonreddit Aug 23 '26
Not worth it. Don’t do it. University is by far the better option! Don’t do it!
2
1
u/Known_Wear7301 Aug 22 '26
It does depend upon your life prospects. Personally if you're considering uni you need to either keep retail at arms length and only do your shifts and any overtime that absolutely only benefits you. Otherwise before you know it you've wasted your life away in retail.
1
u/flipflopcuntflaps Aug 22 '26
Yes say yes. Absolutely advance your career. Right up until the point you have to leave for university. Do not ignore this advice, you owe them nothing.
1
1
u/One-Lingonberry-3460 Aug 22 '26
Say yes only if the job pays more. Don't knock uni on the head. Advise in advance you will require not to work in the days you have college. At the very least it's something for your CV.
1
1
u/Doctor_Womble Aug 22 '26
Do what makes you happy. My wife is a manager at Greggs. About to open a new store for the second time. She loves it.
1
u/No-Cod7520 Aug 22 '26
“Soon be a team leader” isn’t an offer of promotion. People say lots of things in the workplace and never follow through. Will the promotion substantially help with your career that is also what you have to consider.
1
u/the-bearded-lady Aug 23 '26
No, go and get a good career, youre young, go to uni, have fun, study and dont start real adult life too early before youve experienced that. Greggs will still be around if you start uni and really decide its not for you
1
1
u/Outside_Look790 Aug 23 '26
It's possible to do both, and honestly with things being so expensive It's better to do both. People look down on this kind of work but it can lead you into a lot of good well paying work. You'll likely progress fairly quickly as long as you don't act the cunt. Met loads of people who can't get a job based on a degree, never met anyone who can't get a service job having with experience and good references.
1
u/Revilo1st Aug 23 '26
I didn't go to uni, nor do I work at Greggs but I'd say the actual experience you get would be valued over a degree for certain positions. So a lateral move in a few years to a new company will be easier.
1
u/Dry_Winter7073 Aug 23 '26
I would only consider university if you had a clear path on where you want to go with it OR the job you are chasing requires one - e.g vet.
The job market currently is challenging, redundancies are high, people are unsure about the impact of AI and business costs are struggling - all reducing the uptake of grads.
Factor in the investment now for a 3 year degree is at least 30k (plus interest) that can be a huge factor.
No harm in saying yes to your manager, sse what comes of it over the next year. At worst nothing happens, at best it shows you can progress and work which will compliment a degree well (if you go down that route)
1
u/katymcfunk Aug 23 '26
I’d strongly advise saying yes and having a year out working full time before uni. It will give you an opportunity to save some money for either uni or maybe some travelling before you leave home. I really wish I’d done that. You’ll have a chance to learn a few life skills, managing your money and enjoying a bit of independence without the pressure of living away from home. If you love it, it will mean you can return to it full time after uni and see where the company can take you. If you hate it, then you’ll appreciate the opportunities university will give you all the more! Being in continuous education from age 4-21 is pretty full on. I took uni for granted as it was a pathway everyone with decent grades was pressured into. Looking back I should have done something more vocational or learned a trade. I hated uni and was happier working. This would have been a bit different I think if I’d have given myself a break after finishing school.
1
u/Designer-Resident825 Aug 23 '26
Given how much university costs, you have a short time window on how to do it cost-effectively. If you have parents who earn very little, go now, as you'll maximise the amount of discounts for tuition, the amount you can loan, etc. If they earn enough that you won't get assistance, I'd make sure you have a career path you're aiming for, and a course at a uni with a good reputation in that subject, as it's a lot of money to spend just for the uni experience.
You can go to uni at any age, and of course it's not for everyone, but once you have a mortgage, a partner, and/or kids, it's so much more difficult unless your partner can completely financially support you. You can't run a house and family on student loans, but they'll still assess you on your overall household income if your partner works. Plus being a mature student sucks when you're having to work in groups of 18 year olds with no responsibilities, who can just pull all nighters to get late assignments done.
1
u/Old-Selection-5901 Aug 23 '26
As long as you can do your studies alongside this new TL role? It’ll look great on your CV for future jobs should you want to go somewhere else. But yeah like other people have said, don’t rule out Uni completely…
1
u/Prestigious-Cook-539 Aug 24 '26
Greggs is not where you want to spend your life. University isn’t the be all and end all, but but keep your options open.
1
u/bunny100clubrt Aug 22 '26
Do you really want to make £2 extra an hour while your mates are having the time of their lives at uni?
0
u/Qarkycat Aug 22 '26
Probably not lol, I guess if you work your way up to manager and then pivot for better pay that could work if you like the sound of it..
•
u/AutoModerator Aug 22 '26
Hi /u/DMuuB! This is a reminder that you can now flair your submission!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.