Side-Hustle City: Where to Find Part-Time Work in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Luke Williams

Two universities, one small town, and more part-time jobs within walking distance than most students expect. Keele and Staffordshire University students both end up in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and rather than competing for the same handful of roles, they’ve got an on-campus supermarket, a retail park, a proper town centre and a second university’s job board all within easy reach. So, let’s explore how you can find part-time work in Newcastle-under-Lyme this academic year.

Side-Hustle City: Where to Find Part-Time Work in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Getting a Job at Keele University

This is the easiest route, but it means the openings are among the most competitive. Keele Students’ Union runs its own branch of the Co-op at Union Square, right on campus. It’s been there since September 2021 and created 25 new jobs on the day it opened. The SU doesn’t stop there, either. The Hub is its own shop, Union Kitchen and Coffee serves the daytime crowd, and The Squirrel pours drinks alongside a rotating cast of food vendors. All of these great places are managed by the student union itself, so the fastest way in is Keele SU’s own vacancies page, not a general job site.

Finding a Retail or Hospitality Job

Springfields Retail Park is the nearest place to find work at major high street retailers like B&M, The Food Warehouse, Pets at Home, Halfords, and a Greggs drive-thru. Head into the town centre for more options around Ironmarket, High Street and Merrial Street. You’ll find a Poundland on High Street, Home Bargains on Castle Walk, and a clutch of independent shops and cafes that sometimes take on extra staff before Christmas and during the summer.

How About Staffordshire Students?

Yep, there are jobs here too. They’re even worth checking even if your course is at Keele. Staffordshire University’s Students’ Union is found on its Stoke-on-Trent campus and posts its own paid student roles directly through its jobs page. It also offers general careers support. Stoke is a short bus ride from Newcastle-under-Lyme, but is close enough that it’s a good second option rather than a stretch.

How Much Will You Be Paid?

From April 2026, the National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for anyone 21 or over, £10.85 for 18- to 20-year-olds, and £8.00 for 16- and 17-year-olds and apprentices. Those are legal minimums. Anything advertised locally should meet or beat them, so it’s the number to check your payslip against.

How Many Hours Can International Students Work?

Twenty hours a week during term time, if you’re on a Student visa studying a degree-level course. This cap is a total, meaning you cannot work more hours in multiple jobs. Outside your university’s official holiday periods, there’s no hourly limit. One catch worth knowing is that writing up a dissertation doesn’t automatically count as a holiday unless your university says it does, so check your own academic calendar rather than assuming something you could be wrong about.

Things to Know Before Applying

  • Keele SU’s own roles (the Co-op, The Hub, Union Kitchen and Coffee, The Squirrel) fill up fast in the first few weeks of term, so apply early rather than waiting to settle in first.
  • Staffordshire University’s Students’ Union lists its jobs openly too, and it’s easy to overlook if you’re a Keele student who’s never thought to look there.
  • Vacancies at Springfields Retail Park and in the town centre change week to week, so your best bet is checking in person or on each retailer’s own careers page rather than relying on information from today.
  • Try not to let work eat into your degree. Pick the option that fits your timetable rather than the one that pays a few pence more, and the balance tends to sort itself out.

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