Assistant Designer - Childrenswear (Older & Younger Boyswear)

Job ID
Job ID 75766
Team
Team Product
Location
Location Leicester
Job Schedule
Job Schedule Full time
Salary
Salary £32,000 - £43,000
Posting Date
Posting Date 02/06/2026
Apply Before
Apply Before 09/06/2026
Person browsing colour thread swatches on a table covered with yarn samples, striped socks, and measuring tape.

Summary

Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office with flexible core hours between 8am-6pm.

The Role

As an Assistant Designer for Boyswear, specialising in Wovens and Jersey, you will play a pivotal role in shaping a dynamic and essential product category. Your primary mission is to capture emerging trends and transform them into stylish, commercially successful products that resonate with our customers.

In this role, your creativity will directly influence the seasonal ranges. You will work closely with a diverse team of Designers, Buyers, Merchandisers, Technologists, and Sourcing specialists to bring concepts to life efficiently and beautifully. Whether you are stepping up your career or bringing solid industry experience, NEXT offers comprehensive training, mentorship, and resources to help you integrate seamlessly into our fast-paced design studio.

What You’ll Take On
  • Design Versatile Ranges: Create and support the development of innovative product ranges across both Boyswear Wovens and Jersey.
  • Deliver Rapid Turnarounds: Respond swiftly and effectively to design briefs, producing high-quality creative work under fast-paced timelines.
  • Gather Global Inspiration: Undertake inspirational travel and market research trips to spot emerging global trends, fabrics, and styling directions to keep our ranges ahead of the curve.
  • Translate Trends Commercially: Apply your sharp eye for style and trends to build distinctive, desirable product collections that align with NEXT's brand identity.
  • Design to Cost: Creatively work within established price point guidelines without compromising on quality, style, or design integrity.
  • Collaborate Across Teams: Partner closely with designers, buyers, merchandisers, tech teams, sourcing specialists, and global suppliers to deliver ranges on time and to exact specifications.
What You’ll Bring
  • Technical Proficiency: Essential, expert-level knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, alongside strong experience creating detailed tech packs and briefing manufacturers.
  • Commercial Taste: A great natural taste level and an instinct for trend-spotting, combined with an eagerness to learn, pitch fresh ideas, and support the broader team.
  • Industry Experience: A solid background working within a retail or supplier environment is ideal, with preference given to those experienced in dealing with factories and varied brands.
  • Collaboration & Spirit: Exceptional teamwork and interpersonal skills are a must-have. You thrive in a highly collaborative, communication-driven environment.
Portfolios

To help us get a feel for your style, please attach a digital portfolio to your application. We are looking for work that demonstrates a sharp eye for the future of Boyswear, how your ideas can be commercially viable for NEXT, and showcases your direct design and CAD work.

Please Note: All applications must include an updated digital portfolio. Applications submitted without a portfolio will not be considered.

Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. For further information please see: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.

#LI-Onsite

Benefits

  • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
  • Profit-related bonus - based on company performance
  • Private health insurance- surgery choices
  • Sharesave scheme - make savings from your net pay to buy NEXT shares at a discount
  • Pension - fixed contribution rates from both an employer and employee perspective, but you're also able to make additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) if you wish to save more.
  • 25% staff discount on most NEXT products - plus discount on other products
  • Wagestream - helping you make the most out of your money
  • Salary finance - offers access to affordable loans repaid through salary, simple savings and free financial education.
  • Life assurance
  • Direct to work - NEXT orders delivered free to the office for collection
  • VIP sale - early access to the NEXT sale
  • Access to NEXT staff shops
  • Octopus energy - like cycle-to-work, but for electric vehicles
  • Free parking (excluding London locations)
  • Travel2NEXT - bus services dependent on location
  • On site dining facilities (excluding London locations)
  • National and local discounts on goods and services - this includes things like discounted cinema tickets
  • Wellhub - includes access to discounted gym membership
  • Simply health - a healthcare subscription service
  • Aviva Digicare Workplace+ healthcare service - 7 Free services including Digital GP appointments and an annual health check.
  • Onsite GP - Leicester Head Office
  • Onsite Physio - Leicester Head Office
  • A range of dedicated 3rd party wellbeing partners
  • Free eye testing - voucher to use at specific locations
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.

We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.

What's Next?

Team Overview

This is where ideas become incredible collections. Designers, Buyers, Merchandisers, and Technologists collaborate to create products our customers love. You'll spot global trends, strategically balance our range plans and meticulously test quality so every season feels fresh, inspiring and exceptional.

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Our brands

You’ve probably heard of NEXT, but did you know about our portfolio? Every brand in our offering brings a distinct story, attitude and community. Spanning contemporary lifestyle brands, established high street names and timeless collections, together they showcase the vibrancy of today’s retail world.

About NEXT

You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 80 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
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Are you ready to take it on?

Challenges. Opportunities. The future. Let’s take it on at NEXT. 

Bring your energy

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