UK retail is under pressure. Costs are rising, staff are harder to retain, and customer expectations continue to shift. For mid-market retailers in particular – those operating with lean teams, modest IT resources, and tight margins – these challenges are especially acute.
Yet many are still managing their workforce with spreadsheets, guesswork, or legacy systems that can’t keep up. And while technology investment is top of mind for most retail leaders, workforce management (WFM) is often treated as a back-office task rather than a strategic priority.
It’s time to change that thinking. Because the way you manage your people – how you schedule, forecast, engage, and retain them – isn’t just a cost to control. It’s a growth lever, and one of the quickest wins available to UK retailers right now.
Across the UK, the strain on retail operations is intensifying. Labour shortages continue bite, especially since the loss of access to EU workers post-Brexit. Store teams are stretched thin, and turnover is consistently high – with over 50% of retail staff leaving their jobs each year (British Retail Consortium). Among hourly workers, 63% are already planning to quit within the next 12 months, rising to nearly 80% for those under 25 (2025 State of the UK Hourly Workforce).
Mental health and wellbeing issues are also rising sharply. According to the Retail Trust’s Health of Retail report, 71% of retail workers say their mental health is affecting their performance, and businesses are feeling the impact – with an estimated £45 billion lost to workplace mental health issues annually in the UK (Deloitte).
Add to this the pressure of rising wages and fulfilment costs, and the situation becomes even more urgent. As of 2024, the National Living Wage rose again, increasing the cost of each hour worked. For mid-market brands with limited room to absorb cost hikes, the need for efficiency is critical.
And it's not just about the numbers. Expectations have changed. Workers now expect flexibility as standard – with new legislation granting Day One rights to request flexible working. If you’re not offering fair, predictable, and adaptable schedules, you’re not just risking disengagement – you’re risking staff walking out the door.
Despite all this, workforce planning is still often under-prioritised. That’s a mistake.
With a modern, intelligent WFM solution like Quinyx, retailers can align staffing with actual demand, reduce unnecessary labour spend, and improve coverage – without relying on guesswork or heroic efforts from store managers. Automation helps save time on admin, while built-in compliance ensures you're aligned with Working Time Regulations, holiday entitlements, and minimum wage requirements.
Just as importantly, WFM becomes a way to improve employee experience. When frontline staff have access to their rotas, can swap shifts easily, and know what’s coming, they’re more likely to feel in control – and more likely to stay. And when managers aren’t bogged down with manual processes, they can spend more time supporting their teams and focusing on the customer experience.
At Quinyx, we know the mid-market doesn’t have time for six-month implementations or complex IT lifts. That’s why we’ve built a solution that’s quick to roll out, easy to use, and proven to deliver rapid ROI.
With the right internal setup, you could be up and running in as little as eight weeks. Industry launch packs tailored to sector-specific needs, along with expert onboarding, help you move fast – without compromising on flexibility. Our industry experts help tailor the configuration using proven best practices, ensuring the system aligns with what actually works.
Quinyx is designed to integrate with your existing tools – whether that’s payroll, POS, or HR systems – and gives both head office and store teams the visibility they need to make smarter decisions, faster.
You’ll see fewer no-shows, more accurate forecasting, stronger employee engagement, and better compliance – all from a single, mobile-friendly platform. And for finance teams, the impact is tangible: up to 10% reduction in labour spend and clearer oversight of labour as a percentage of sales.
Implementation timelines may vary based on internal resources and configuration.
Retail is only going to get more complex. As customer expectations continue to rise and operating costs climb, the retailers who thrive will be those who can act fast, plan smart, and empower their people.
Workforce management is no longer just about filling gaps in the rota – it’s about building resilience, boosting retention, and running leaner, smarter operations.
With Quinyx, that future is closer than you think.
Ready to turn workforce complexity into your competitive edge? Explore how Quinyx helps mid-market retailers succeed.