STORES giant Tesco is targeting the long-term unemployed in a recruitment drive to staff three new Extra stores in the Manchester area.

The company says it hopes to take on up to 600 recruits - including single parents, older people who have been made redundant and young people who have never worked.

The first of the new `regeneration partnership' stores to open its doors will be a flagship Tesco in the new Gorton District Shopping Centre on Hyde Road.

More than 45,000 leaflets have been sent out in Gorton, Ardwick, Beswick, Longsight, Openshaw, Levenshulme and Newton Heath, alerting people who have been out of work for at least six months about job opportunities. The level of interest for people wanting to work there is high and hundreds of people have already contacted local Jobcentres.

The new Gorton store is set to open for business in October, and there are plans for similar ventures in Cheetham Hill and the Huddersfield Road area of Oldham.

Tesco spokesman Neil Skitt said: "Tesco's approach is based on our conviction that neighbourhood renewal is not just about the physical regeneration of inner city areas, but also the renewal of community life and providing sustable job opportunities.

"With many long-term unemployed people, it is largely an issue of lack of confidence which has held them back.

"What we are trying to do is tease out the real personality of the person and give them the training to instil the confidence that has been lacking - sometimes for many years.

Successful

"The scheme has already proved successful in other areas."

The partnership, which brings together organisations including New East Manchester, Manchester council and Jobcentre Plus, is aimed at overcoming obstacles that often stop people getting jobs, such as disabilities or low levels of numeracy and literacy.

People who are accepted are guaranteed a job provided they finish an eight-to-12-week training programme - a guarantee Tesco says no other employer matches.

Recruitment for the Gorton store will be in two stages: First for potential staff who have been unemployed for over six months; then open recruitment by the end of July.

New East Manchester chief executive Eddie Smith said: "The job opportunities created for local people through this partnership are a key to bringing a better quality of life to the area and go hand in hand with the major physical transformation taking place."

Gorton MP Gerald Kaufman has welcomed the announcement, saying: "It is a clear commitment from Tesco and its partners that shows how the jobs created by this project will go to those who need them most."

Tesco has set up a special recruitment hotline on 0161 251 3464 for anyone interested in booking themselves on to one of the open days that are being held every day during the week beginning June 2.

The hotline is open from 9.30am until 4pm Monday to Friday.
Tweet