Revolutionary Ideas

It wasn’t long before Spedan became uneasy that he, his brother and his father were receiving more income from the family business than all their employees put together. After a riding accident forced him to have two operations and a long period of recovery, he thought deeply about his own future and that of the business. He was eager to share his profits with his staff and to redistribute money which was being kept in reserve.

In order to do this, Spedan decided he would have to make the business into a limited liability company, distributing the profits to the employees in the form of shares in proportion to their pay. His father’s reaction to this suggestion – and to his inevitable smaller share of the retained profits – was somewhat negative.

The Experiment

It was in 1914 that John Lewis Senior handed over the entire managerial control of the Peter Jones shop to Spedan, who became the shop’s chairman and its nominal managing director. He was then free to start putting his forward-thinking ideas into practice. However, his father made him continue to work until 5pm at the Oxford Street shop, and the Peter Jones business was doing badly.

Spedan’s first move was to shorten the working day by an hour and to start a departmental system of commission. He also set up the staff committees in which elected representatives held regular meetings with him in the absence of their managers. This system is still in operation.

Spedan had a serious disagreement with his father in 1916 that was to shape the future of the John Lewis Partnership. He withdrew from active participation in the Oxford Street shop and swapped his quarter-share of the business for his father’s controlling holding in the capital of Peter Jones Limited.

Over the next few years he made further changes at Peter Jones, giving the staff a third week’s holiday, taking on unusually well educated people for management posts, and starting The Gazette (our internal news publication which is still published in the Partnership today).

In 1919 he set up a staff council (the forerunner of today’s Partnership, Divisional and Branch Councils). His employee-ownership and democratic business model ideas were starting to flourish and Peter Jones was commercially, all the better for it.

Family & Business

Spedan Lewis married Sarah Beatrice Mary Hunter in 1923. She was one of five women graduates recruited as buyers the previous year and became deputy chairman of the Partnership after their marriage. They had three children: John, who sadly died as a child, Jill (1927-68) and Edward (1929-2008).

Spedan’s mother died in 1924 and the long disagreement between him and his father was made up. In 1926, Oswald gave his brother his share in the Oxford Street shop, and control of both stores passed to Spedan, although his father was still very much involved with the day-to-day running of the business. Spedan immediately started to apply his ‘Partnership’ ideals to the Oxford Street shop as well, and bought the Odney Club at Cookham, Berkshire, in the same year (one of 5 Partnership hotels that we still enjoy today).

John Lewis Senior died in 1928, aged 92, leaving Spedan sole owner of both stores. He expanded his shop still further down Oxford Street. He also converted the John Lewis firm into a public company – John Lewis and Company Limited – creating capital for expansion.

The Partnership is Born

On 18 April 1929 Spedan Lewis signed the First Trust Settlement, transferring his own shares in John Lewis Ltd, Peter Jones Ltd and the Odney Estate to a board of trustees on behalf of the Partners. He also created the John Lewis Partnership Limited.

In return he would receive bonds worth £1 million over the following 30 years. He retained complete practical control but took no more income from the business.

Twenty-one years later, on 26 April 1950, Spedan signed the Second Trust Settlement, effectively ‘giving’ the Partnership to the people who work in it. By this act he transferred all his remaining shares and his ultimate control to the trustees. The John Lewis Partnership expanded during the remainder of the 20th century into the business we know today.

Waitrose Joins the Partnership

The Partnership bought Waitrose Ltd in October 1937. At the time it was a London-based family business with 10 grocery and provisions shops employing 164 staff. Wallace Wyndham Waite, who had opened his first shop with Arthur Rose and David Taylor in 1904, was still in charge.

The three men had started trading in Acton, west London. Their original shop soon expanded, and reopened in much larger premises in 1908, selling everything from fish to flowers. By 1920 there were more than 20 Waitrose shops throughout London and the Home Counties, but many shops had closed by 1930 after a decade of more difficult trading conditions.

The Partnership was attracted to Waitrose, said Spedan Lewis, by its ‘high reputation not only for the quality of its goods but also for the way in which it has been built up… It is no secret that many provision shops… have owed a good deal of their success to the bribing of servants of their customers. Messrs Waitrose Limited have never used any such methods.’

We All Own It

From a small drapers shop on Oxford Street to truly revolutionary ideas, the John Lewis Partnership today stands as a profound testament to the foresight of Spedan Lewis and his belief that a better way of doing business could be found. One that benefits its Partners, customers, suppliers and the world as a whole.

In an ever-changing 21st-century retail landscape, this enduring model of ownership remains our deepest strength. It is a structure where every individual is a Partner, with a shared stake in the collective future. This spirit, forged through a history of overcoming challenges, ensures that the Partnership, gifted by its founder to the people who work in it, remains strong, resilient, and ready to face the future and is anchored in unwavering conviction of our unique purpose – Working in Partnership for a Happier World.

What is an employee ownership trust?

At the heart of employee ownership is an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Think of it as a safety net of shared success. An EOT is a structure where a trust owns a big part—or all—of the company on behalf of the employees.

This means you don’t have to worry about managing shares individually. Instead, the trust ensures that all Partners benefit as the company grows. It’s about creating long-term stability and fostering a sense of shared purpose. It’s business with a heart, where everyone in the team wins together.

What are the benefits of joining an employee-owned business?

Working for an employee-owned business isn’t just about clocking in and out. It’s about being part of something bigger and reaping the rewards of collective success.

John Spedan Lewis had an extraordinary vision for how his business could make a difference – both to the lives of his workers and the wider community. He knew the best way to do this was to give power to his staff and make them more than employees.

Much may have changed since 1918, but our Partnership still places the utmost importance on the happiness and prosperity of our Partners, customers and the wider world.

Here are the key benefits that set apart JLP’s business model, making it a happier place to work:

• Share in the wins: When the business thrives, so do you. Profits made by our business are invested back into our Partner’s salaries and other benefits like pensions and self-development.
• Feel Connected: Knowing you have a stake in the business will ignite your motivation and passion for what you do. Together we can shape the future success of the Partnership.
• Have a Voice: The John Lewis Partnership operates on democratic principles, with inclusive decision-making for all areas of the business, so your ideas and opinion matters.
• Greater Security: Decisions are made with a focus on our Partners wellbeing and with long term success in mind.
• Make a difference: Our Partnership seeks to make the world a happier place in any way we can. We take responsibility for our impact on the planet and champion the charitable work of our Partners, helping to improve lives for both local and global communities.

Democracy For All at the John Lewis Partnership

Democracy is essential to the day to day running and future vision of the John Lewis Partnership. This means that all of our Partners can have their say on key decisions and help steer the ship.

The business still operates under a unique constitution set out by our founder, which guides how we share knowledge, power, and profit.

This is achieved through our three governing authorities – the Partnership Council, the Chairman and the Partnership Board.

Over 600 Partners from across the business are democratically elected to have a voice across our Forums, at our Council and on our Board. Together they have the opportunity to shape how the company is run, offer support and challenge to leadership when necessary and make sure we stay true to our values.

Ever wish you had a platform to share your thoughts at work? At JLP, the Gazette is an internal publication which reports on the business, and is where Partners can be free to speak their minds.

This weekly in-house magazine is circulated both in print and online. It sets its own editorial agenda and has a unique, independent role to ensure knowledge is shared through journalism, about the business to all Partners.

It is a place for open conversations, sharing ideas and engaging with the Partnership’s direction, serving as a reminder that every voice counts.

This level of transparency and communication is a big reason why the Gazette was written into our constitution and has since become the UK’s longest-standing internal publication, which has never changed its name since launch.

Discover more about becoming a Partner

When you become a Partner at the John Lewis Partnership, you’re more than an employee. You’re joining a team where your contribution directly impacts our success. It’s a place that values shared responsibility and puts people at the heart of everything it does.

If you’re looking for a career that offers a sense of belonging, personal development, and the chance to be part of something truly meaningful, this is the place for you.

Ready to explore what being a Partner is all about? Read more about our Partnership, discover our Partner stories or browse our latest job vacancies.

Accessibility settings 

Look to the top right of your screen and you’ll see the universal access icon (a human figure in a circle). Simply click on this circle, and you’ll have access to our accessibility settings, with options to select an alternative high contrast theme and text size.  

These settings are applied in an instant once clicked, no matter what device you’re using. They’re integrated completely with our website so there’s no need to mess around with browser settings or download any plugins. 

High contrast theme 

The first option on our accessibility setting toolbar is a high contrast theme. As if by magic, this transforms the colours that appear on every page, making the site much easier to read for those with low vision or colour vision deficiencies.  

Large text setting 

There’s also an option within our accessibility toolbar to increase the text size on the website. This is a really helpful feature for those with a visual disability or cognitive impairment, as it makes it easy to read and concentrate on different sections of text. 

Keyboard navigation 

Our careers site has an optimal set up for visually impaired people who are using screen readers. Logical tabbing sequences and clear focus indicators mean links, buttons, menus, and forms can all be navigated easily with a keyboard. 

Links, imagery, and form fields are also tagged with descriptive text to further improve the website experience for our screen reader users. 

Video captions 

Videos across the website are presented with captions. These narrate the audio for those with a hearing impairment. We know this feature will also be welcomed by those on the move who don’t have a pair of headphones to hand. 

Responsive design 

Our careers site has been built to be highly readable for candidates of all abilities. It features high contrast content, generous spacing of elements and accessible forms, which adapt to a variety of devices and screen sizes. 

We’d love to hear about your experience using the site and whether you feel there’s anything else we can do to improve it further. To give feedback or request more support, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly recruitment team. 

You might also wish to take a look at our accessibility and diversity pages, to learn more about more of the fantastic inclusivity initiatives at the John Lewis Partnership. 

Izaac’s story

Izaac applied to collaborate with the John Lewis Partnership and creative agency Saatchi & Saatchi, and their talented work was championed by the charity Become.

They worked with the John Lewis in-house design team and creative partners at Saatchi & Saatchi to develop their unique designs, including in a one-on-one workshop.

“Turning my care records into artwork helped me regain authorship over information concealed from me. Inspired by my time in the woods, the branches become my protectors, letting me process and redact information at my own pace.

“As a fine art student, this is an incredible opportunity to help my Art work gain visibility. Made by care is helping me develop my connections and gain experience in the art world – seeing how products are made, working with designers and creatives.”

Izaac, Designer and Fine Art Student

The new gifting range

The gifting range is a must-have choice for presents with a purpose this Christmas and includes three unisex graphic T-shirts (£15), ideal for layering in the winter; as well as a stylish sweatshirt (£30); two silk scarves (£25) – the accessory of AW24 – and a printed statement mug (£6). These items are available online from 23rd October and in John Lewis stores from the 28th October.

The range also includes two printed tote bags (£10) made of recycled bottles, which are available online and in Waitrose stores.

Profits from each product sold will be donated to the Building Happier Futures fund, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership Foundation. All donations will contribute to support our work with Action for Children, Home Start and Who Cares? Scotland building supportive communities for care experienced people, and helping families and carers create happy and secure homes.

The collaborative design-led project will see more products launched in 2025 and beyond, as part of the Partnerships long-term commitment to support Care Experienced young people through the Building Happier Futures programme.

“This collection is beautiful, bringing together unique designs that tell a deeply personal story. It’s exciting to see how this range can be a vehicle for change, and we’re thrilled to offer our customers pieces that are not only beautiful but also champion the talents of designers who are care experienced.”

Rosie Hanley, Director of Brand for John Lewis

“Izaac’s designs tell a unique and personal story. Our customers aren’t just buying a beautifully designed product; they’re investing in a piece that highlights a real societal issue, with the potential to inspire real change. It’s so exciting to see how the Made By Care brand is developing and how this is making a meaningful difference to more lives through the Building Happier Futures programme.”

Ceira Thom, Head of Learning at the John Lewis Partnership