UK retailer Morrisons today (14 December) announced it will create more than 7,000 new jobs in 2012.
The company plans to open 25 new stores next year and said some of the newly-created roles will be in-store “craft skills” jobs in butchery, bakery and fishmongery. It does not yet know how many of the new stores will be its standard format or its fledgling M-Local convenience outlet.
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Morrisons said 300 of the new jobs would be at its new Bridgwater distribution centre, which will provide food for its stores in the south-west of England and south Wales.
The company also said more jobs could be in the pipeline as it looks to develop its fresh food manufacturing capability. A Morrisons spokesperson explained that the majority of in-store jobs will be full employees but admitted it may use agency staff if it does create the extra manufacturing roles. In June, Morrisons was criticised for using a legal loophole to avoid paying temporary workers the same as full-time staff.
Norman Pickavance, group HR director at Morrisons, said: “Despite the difficult economic conditions, Morrisons continues to have ambitious growth plans and that means we will be searching for people to join us in the communities in which we operate.
“At a time when the number of young and long-term unemployed continues to increase we will provide opportunities for many people and help them build a career in retailing. That means we won’t just be providing a job – we’re committed to training our new colleagues so that they have the capability to move from the shop floor to the top floor.”
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