“Even when we sign our initials, we’re reminded of where it all started.”
Molly Bret and Steven Key met while working at M&S
A couple who found love in the aisles while working at a supermarket together during university have made the move to Northern Ireland.
Steven Key, 28, originally from Lincoln, started working at M&S as a Christmas temp when he was just 17. When he moved to Leeds for university he transferred to the local store, but he had no idea this move would eventually lead him to Belfast – and the person he would build his life with.
At the same time, Molly Bret, 29, had also moved from Bangor to Leeds for university and joined the very same M&S team. On her very first day, she was buddied up with Steven for training – and the rest, as they say, slowly began to unfold.
The pair worked closely together for a year, during which a friendship blossomed but nothing more. “We probably both knew we liked each other,” Molly laughs, “but because we worked together, neither of us ever really made a move.”
It wasn’t until Molly decided to leave the store to pursue a new degree that things came to a head. “I think it took Molly getting ready to leave for us both to go into panic mode – like, if not now, when?” Steven admits.
After a team night out prior to Molly’s departure – and a drink for courage – Molly took the lead. “I like to tell people Steven made the first move,” she says, “but honestly, I’m pretty sure it was me. I was like, ‘Okay, are we more than friends or what?’ … and the rest is history.”
Not long after, Molly realised her new career path wasn’t quite right for her and secured her old role back in store, working alongside Steven once again.
“Thankfully, we work really well together, so being in a relationship and working together was pretty seamless,” Molly says.
At first, the couple decided to keep their relationship quiet. “I’d tell colleagues about the person I was dating and what we’d done at the weekend – just not who it was,” Molly laughs.
“We thought everyone knew and just didn’t say anything. Turns out, they had no idea! They were so shocked when we finally revealed it – I was like, ‘By the way… the person I’ve been talking about this whole time is Steven!’”
Three years later, the pandemic changed everything. With friends moving away from Leeds and Molly feeling increasingly homesick, her time in Leeds came to an end. “I always knew I wanted to return home, to Northern Ireland, but it’s hard telling your partner that when he lives so far away,” Molly explains.
Luckily, Steven was all in. “I knew once I left Lincoln for university that I wouldn’t live there again,” he says. “So when Molly was returning to Belfast, I was just like, ‘Alright, I’ll come too.’”
Before returning to Northern Ireland, they both waited for their transfers, with Molly’s coming through first. She secured a role at the Upper Newtownards Road store and, coincidentally, when a position later became available for Steven, it was in the very same store. From there, they continued working together and progressed in their careers, going on to take on Team Manager roles.
Although they worked well together, shift patterns sometimes made it tricky to spend quality time outside of M&S. After 2.5 years, Molly transferred to Boucher Road as a Team Manager, and shortly after, Steven moved to Malone Road in the same role.
“Working separately is probably the best decision we’ve made,” Molly says. “Working together isn’t as bad as people think, but having that separation from work is healthy and means we get more time off together.”
Steven agrees: “Our stores work closely together, and our Store Managers are really supportive. We still get weekends off together and the same holidays over Christmas – we’re really grateful for that.”
Looking back, Steven reflects on how much his life has changed since joining M&S at 16. He said: “It’s funny how a job I started as a teenager ended up with me moving to Belfast, then to Bangor, and now planning to get a pup with the girl I buddied with in the Leeds store.”
Molly laughs, adding: “Even when we sign our initials, we’re reminded of where it all started.”
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