Virtual

Virtual Work Experience with Dunelm: Careers, Skills, and Opportunities

Job sector

Retail

This programme is open to anyone aged 13+

Certificate of completion

Over 7 hours worth of content

Overview

Step inside Dunelm, the UK’s favourite homewares retailer, and discover what it’s really like to work both in-store and behind the scenes. This Virtual Work Experience programme gives you a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of careers — from retail and supply chain to tech and head office roles — all while building valuable employability skills.

Through interactive activities and expert insights, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how a big business operates and what it takes to succeed in today’s world of work. Whether you’re interested in customer service, logistics, or digital innovation, this programme will help you find your happy place and take your first step towards a rewarding career.

What’s Included

This programme offers a comprehensive introduction to Dunelm, including its history, values, and strong commitment to sustainability. You’ll explore a variety of career areas such as retail, head office, supply chain and logistics, and tech, gaining valuable insight into how each function supports the business. The programme also features quizzes and reflection tasks to reinforce your understanding. Finally, upon completion, you’ll receive a certificate to showcase your achievement and support your future career plans.

Get to know Dunelm, the UK’s number one homewares retailer — where there really is something for everyone. You’ll discover the company’s journey from a small market stall in 1979 to the nationwide brand it is today. Explore Dunelm’s vision, purpose, and values, and see how they shape everything the business does. You’ll also learn how Dunelm is working towards a more sustainable future, from planet-friendly products to supporting communities and its people. Finally, you’ll find out about entry level roles including early careers, and start reflecting on what you’ve learnt so far.

Step into Dunelm’s retail world — where products meet customers in store and online. You’ll learn how retail at scale works, from in-store merchandising to customer service, and see how every decision is made with the customer in mind. Explore a variety of retail career pathways, hear directly from Dunelm colleagues, and find out the key skills you’ll need to succeed, like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. You’ll even get creative with an activity where you design your own in-store product layout.

Take a look behind the scenes of Dunelm’s operations: the support centre. You’ll explore how departments like Customer, Commercial, Finance, People, and Digital work together to support stores and keep everything running smoothly. Learn about different career paths in head office, from creative to analytical roles, and find out what skills Dunelm looks for in its colleagues. You’ll also take part in a hands-on activity that brings Dunelm’s heritage to life through an interactive timeline.

Find out how Dunelm gets the right products to the right customers at the right time. You’ll see how supply chain and logistics bring together warehouses, inventory management, delivery systems, and teamwork to keep everything moving efficiently. Explore careers in warehouse and delivery roles, and learn the skills that make a difference — from time management to attention to detail. You’ll also tackle a problem-solving challenge to keep orders flowing when unexpected issues arise.

See how technology, digital tools, and data power innovation at Dunelm. You’ll explore how these areas help create better products, services, and customer experiences. Learn about exciting careers in tech, digital marketing, and data analytics, and discover the mix of creativity, problem-solving, and persistence they require. In the activity, you’ll step into the role of a digital marketer, creating an Instagram campaign for a new product launch.

No matter where you see yourself working in the future, strong employability skills will help you get there. This module is all about the key skills that employers value – like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving – and how you can start developing them now. You’ll learn how these skills work together in real jobs, reflect on your own strengths, and make a plan to build the areas you want to improve.

Available dates

Starting soon

Programme dates

27th October 2025 - 23rd May 2026

Hear from our student community

“

Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Thank you for all your time and effort. The program was by far the best experience I’ve had virtually compared to other virtual experiences I’ve done. I liked the layout and the interactive activities, and I learnt a lot I didn’t know. I would definitely recommend this program to others; it was a great experience I would love to do it all again.

“

Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

I enjoyed understanding the many professions and areas within journalism that I had not been able to clearly separate prior to this programme; I particularly enjoyed the photojournalism and broadcast journalism sections, as they allowed me to explore a less conventional writing style than what I would normally use. The interactive tasks were a great way for me to demonstrate and put into practice my new knowledge, and all of the videos were extremely concise and helpful.

“

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

A huge thank you to everyone who made this programme possible. It was a fantastic experience, and I feel more confident in myself now when applying for a job position in the future and in my personal life. I valued this experience because I realised it was okay to make mistakes and how they make you stronger for future events. I loved how efficient the Barclays team was when students and the professionals who ran the live webinars asked questions. The skills I've learnt through this virtual work experience will be used for future endeavours. So once again, thank you so much.

Frequently asked questions

When will I hear back if I have been successful with my application?

Once you have applied for your programme, you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified about the outcome of your application via email at least 3 days before the programme start date. Good luck!

Can I apply to multiple programmes?

Yes, you can sign up to multiple programmes with us. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any potential clashes.

Who can take part in the programme? (Age limits, some programmes have location constraints but most don’t etc.)

Most of our programmes require students to be in school/college. Some programmes require students to be based in specific regions of the UK, this is stipulated by the organisations themselves, and is not defined by Springpod.

However, the ages mentioned on our programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. As such, we more than welcome older students to apply as well!

How long does it take for assignments to be reviewed?

Assignments can take up to a week or longer to review and be marked complete. Rest assured, it will be reviewed soon and your certificate will be generated once your programme has been marked as complete.

What do I do if I upload the wrong file?

If you make a mistake when uploading a file, please email hello@springpod.com. We will be able to make a note on our system. Don’t worry, the outcome of your programme will not be affected by this.

How long will I have to complete this programme?

There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

When does the programme start?

Our programmes have various start dates, you can find the exact date on the programme website page. These are available here: https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/search

You will be notified if your application has been successful, 3 days before the programme start date.

What happens if I can't finish the work experience in time?

All programme material will remain accessible after the end date of the programme. Students can continue to work through their programme after the official end date. Although, if possible, we would strongly encourage students to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions.

How much work is required for these programmes? (Will I be able/should I complete more than one programme at a time)?

There is around 10 hours worth of work in total, spread across a two week period. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any work whenever possible.

When do the programmes run? (programme structure etc.)

Once you have access, you can view and complete the material as and when you can, within the time frame of the course in question (for example, within a two week period). In total, there is around 10 hours worth of work. The live talks will take place during weekday working hours. However, all live talks will be available as recordings and the courses can be completed at your own convenience. . There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

What happens if I can't make a live talk/webinar?

All live talks will be available as recordings. You can access these at the same link used to access the live event. So don’t worry if you can’t attend a live webinar, a recording will be available for you to access through your programme within 24 hours of the live event finishing.

What software is required for the live talks?

We use a piece of software called BigMarker. It is a cloud based video hosting software. It requires no installations or downloads on your end, and will provide everything you need to join the live webinars through one simple link.

Will I be able to ask questions/do I have to have my microphone on?

You will have a chance to ask questions at the end of each webinar. These questions are typed out and then read to the presenter by the host of the live talk. There is no need to speak, and all student microphones will be muted for the duration of the live webinar.

Do you offer in-person work experience?
We don't directly manage in person work experience but many of our virtual programmes can lead to in person opportunities, look for the programmes marked as 'Virtual to Reality'. You will need to complete the virtual programme and declare your interest via the embedded form.
When will I hear if there is an in-person opportunity?
Our employer partner will contact you directly about any opportunities, timescales can vary Springpod won't be able to provide any updates on progress.

Ready to find out if this career is right for you?

Apply now

Virtual Work Experience with Dunelm: Careers, Skills, and Opportunities

This programme is open to anyone aged 13+

Certificate of completion

Over 7 hours worth of content

Introduction to Dunelm

Retail

Head Office

Supply Chain and Logistics

Tech, Digital & Data

Employability Skills

Available dates

Hear from our student community

Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Wilfred Williams, Year 12 Student from London

Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

Ellinor Comard, Year 12 Student from Teddington

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

Jack Zhou, Year 12 Student from Kingston upon Thames

Frequently asked questions

I have a question about my application or programme eligibility

I have a question about my assignment

I have a question about the programme dates, deadline or workload

I have a question about the live talks

I have a question about the certificate

I have a question about in-person work experience

I want to delete my account

Ready to find out if this career is right for you?