A jobs bonanza is coming to the Western Wards with 1,000 new posts up for grabs at the Whiteley shopping centre.
Job seekers in the Western Wards will get the chance to apply for one of the jobs at the new shopping centre at a recruitment day being held next week.
More than 50 shops including restaurants, cafes, national chains and local retailers will be taking on new staff to work at the £84m centre which opens on May 23.
Neil Carter
The recruitment open day will be held on Wednesday March 27 at the Solent Hotel in Whiteley and will give candidates a chance to meet retailers such as Topshop, Next and Starbucks and find out more about the vacancies on offer.
Neil Carter, who has been appointed as the new centre manager of Whiteley Shopping Centre said: “There is just two months to go until we open the doors at Whiteley Shopping Centre on May 23rd, and with more than 50 retailers, cafés and restaurants joining the line-up, there are significant employment opportunities for the local area.
“The recruitment day will be a chance for local people to find out more about the type of vacancies on offer, and an opportunity to speak to retailers directly.”
Mr Carter, who has taken one of the first new jobs for the Whiteley as the centre manager, was previously manager at Parkway in Newbury and has worked in retail with Debenhams and Marks & Spencer in the past.
He added: “I am delighted to be part of this exciting new shopping centre. We are working very hard to ensure that local people can have an excellent shopping experience, right on their doorstep.
An artist impression of shoppers using the Whiteley Shopping Centre
“I want to maximise the obvious potential of the area and believe Whiteley Shopping Centre will be of massive benefit to local businesses and residents, as well as being an attraction for the wider region.”
The shopping centre is now 87 per cent let and retailers confirmed include Bank, Boots, Claire’s, Clarks, H&M, JD, Mamas & Papas, Moss, Marks & Spencer, Next, Paperchase, River Island, Schuh, SportsDirect, The Entertainer, Topshop and Topman.
Seven independent retailers from the Western Wards will join the line-up and a monthly market will feature local retailers and producers from around the region.
Anyone interested in attending the recruitment day should pre-register at www.whiteleyshopping.co.uk.