UK: Asda plan to create 5,000 jobs applauded by David Cameron
The chain is also pledging that some employees would be given the chance to take City & Guilds apprenticeships – earning the praise of the prime minister.‘The additional investment and 5,000 new jobs announced by Asda today will be a real boost for the economy and more importantly for people around Britain seeking jobs,’ said David Cameron.He also welcomed Asda's move to offer employees the chance to enter an apprenticeship scheme.
The majority of the new stores will be smaller supermarkets and Asda Living non-food outlets.The group has already launched a store in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, this year but also plans to open outlets in places such as Bootle in Merseyside, Gateshead in Tyne & Wear, Harworth in Nottinghamshire and Todmorden in West Yorkshire.
Asda, which is owned by the world’s biggest retailer, US-based Walmart, employs more than 180,000 people and runs 528 stores across the country. Its staff numbers were boosted last year by the acquisition of 147 Netto sites and the opening of 12 stores.Nearly half the jobs it created in 2011 went to young people, who are currently battling high unemployment, while 8,500 jobs went to those who had signed up through Job Centre Plus.
Source: www.metro.co.uk