5th June 2007 - Hundreds Flock for Jobs
Hundreds Flock to Join Queue In Shops For Jobs
BY JAMES COXON
JCOXON@DERBYTELEGRAPH.CO.UK
09:30 - 05 June 2007
Stores that are due to open in Derby's new £310m shopping centre have been inundated with people hoping to secure a job.
Clothes retailers H &M and Next said that they have had a massive response to recruitment advertisements, while more than 1,500 people have registered with Workstation, which was set up to help people find employment at the centre.
A spokeswoman for H &M said that the company was looking for 56 employees and that the company was delighted with the response to the advertisements.
She said: "Whenever we open a new store, we get positive feedback from people who want to work for us.
"We're very pleased that Derby is no different and we look forward to interviewing all the people who've applied."
Next has also been encouraged by the response from people. A spokesman for the company said: "We've received many applications for the jobs at the new store in Westfield Derby.
"We can't wait to offer people in the city our great products at the new store and we're very pleased that local people who've applied for the jobs will be part of that."
Next and H &M are also recruiting staff through Workstation, which opened in March in the Corn Exchange, Albert Street. The centre will help people to apply for the 2,850 job opportunities due to be created by the opening of the extended shopping centre on October 9 - 27 months after work started.
Marks and Spencer, 3G, Topshop and Monsoon are also using the centre to recruit staff.
A spokesman for Workstation said: "We've had more interest than we expected and we've had a great response to Workstation and feedback about the Westfield Derby development in general."
John Forkin, director of Marketing Derby, which was set up to promote the city, said: "You hear positive talk about the shopping centre but people often forget that the site will create almost 3,000 jobs. Over the next few months, we'll see many businesses taking on employees from the area, which will benefit the city."
Other stores to sign up for space in the development are mobile phone stores Carphone Warehouse, O2 and Vodafone, coffee shops Costa and Gratzia Coffee, Zumo juice bar, The Perfume Shop and fashion stores Republic, Xplicit, Baronjon, Pearl Boutique, Eltex, Ministry of Design and Trade Secrets.
Arts and collectables store Thomas Kinkade will also be opening, as well as jewellers F Hinds and Judith Hart of Derby, health and beauty shop Tai-ji, computer store CEX and stationers Paperchase.
Debenhams and Marks and Spencer have already started fitting out their shops and other names which will be joining them include fashion outlets River Island, Accessorize, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, La Senza and Jane Norman.
For more details about Workstation, call Derby 715304
