Huge response to Tesco Gateshead recruitment call

29-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — More than 2,000 people called a recruitment hotline in its first two days, keen to stake their claim for a job in the new Gateshead Tesco Extra store.

Call takers took the details of every person who took the time to contact the hotline which went live at 9am on Monday January 21, advising them of the phased recruitment process to fill 200 new jobs at the store.

Currently under construction as part of the £150m Trinity Square regeneration of Gateshead, the Tesco Extra store will employ around 500 people in total when it opens its doors to customers on May 20.

Doug Wilson, Tesco Corporate Affairs Manager, said: “The response from the public to the job opportunities we have on offer has been tremendous.

“The jobs on offer are flexible across seven days a week and we offer some of the best rates of pay within the retail sector.”

Leader of Gateshead Council, Mick Henry, said: “A key part of our negotiations with Spenhill and Tesco in the planning of this development was to create new jobs and target local unemployed people, so this is a major milestone for us and it’s great to see such anticipation and interest.

“What’s even more encouraging is that there are more jobs coming – our economic development team is keen to work with as many people contacting us as possible towards the new retail opportunities across Gateshead.”

A regeneration partnership including Tesco and Gateshead Council contains a pledge that 30% of the new staff who will work at the Tesco Extra store will be long-term unemployed. Additional help, support and training is being offered to applicants by Gateshead Council and Jobcentre Plus.

In addition to the new jobs, around 250 employees from the town’s original Gateshead Tesco, whose employment has been protected, will be offered the opportunity to return to the new Gateshead Tesco Extra from outlets they are working in during its construction.

Those who have been out of work for shorter periods or are simply looking for a new job will be given advice on the later phases of recruitment in the run up to the store’s opening on Monday May 20.

The hotline will be in operation for the rest of this week open from 9am to 4pm each day on 0191 490 9440 or freephone 0800 054 2367.

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