Asda joins supermarket job creation trail
SUPERMARKET chain Asda has revealed plans to create 7,000 jobs this year and open 14 new stores.
The Leeds-based grocer has also pledged to recruit 3,000 “long-term unemployed” people for existing vacancies within the group.
The announcement follows plans revealed by Bradford-based Morrisons earlier this month to create 5,000 positions and proposlas by Tesco to create 10,000 jobs.
Asda will create 3,700 new jobs throughout the UK with the opening of nine new food stores, five new non-food format Asda Living outlets and extensions to 15 existing stores.
In addition 2,000 new jobs will be created through the expansion of its home shopping business Asda.com, and a further 1,000 new jobs through organic growth.
It will also create 120 new roles in Asda pharmacies and optical centres nationwide.
Asda is set to create 580,000 sq ft of new store space this year, which will be launched with the opening of an Asda superstore in Bury St Edmonds in March.
The jobs among the long-term unemployed will be filled through Local Employment Partnerships and Remploy – Asda’s recruitment partner for people with disabilities and health conditions.
The move will help provide full and part time roles to people who have been unemployed for more than six months.
Andy Bond, president and chief executive of Asda, said: “This year we will create 7,000 new jobs at a time when many companies are having to lay people off.
“We will also be helping 3,000 long-term unemployed get back into work by specifically targeting them for existing vacancies in our business.”
James Purnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “At a time when we are facing global economic challenges people need as much support as possible to help them get into jobs. Local Employment Partnership’s such as Asda have been a real success.”
Beth Carruthers, director of employment services at Remploy, said: “The announcement of these new positions is excellent news and will allow us to work together still further. Now of all times we should not be turning our backs on disadvantaged people and should instead be ensuring they have the opportunity to play a full role in the economic life of the country.”
