1,000 apply for 50 jobs at Welshpool restaurant
More than 1,000 people applied for 50 full and part time jobs at a new restaurant in Welshpool.
More than 1,000 people applied for 50 full and part time jobs at a new restaurant in Welshpool.
People from across Shropshire and Mid Wales applied for bar staff, waitress, cleaning and management positions at the Smithfield Bell – with the owners spending more than 12 hours on one day alone returning phone calls from applicants. The Marston’s restaurant will officially open on June 25.
It is opposite the town’s Tesco superstore in Mill Lane. And there are still positions available for two line chefs and a cleaner.
Mark Watson, who will be running the restaurant alongside his wife Sarah, said they had been overwhelmed by the response.
“On one day alone, our two phones were ringing people back from 8.30am until 11pm at night,” he said. “It was quite incredible. The phones have not stopped ringing since we started recruiting.”
Mr Watson has 17 years experience in the pub trade and has come to Welshpool from a Marston’s restaurant in Hull.
He said: “It is important to point out that we are an eatery and not a pub with our drinks priced higher than many town centre pubs.
“My first impression of Welshpool is positive – it is a very nice town and the Smithfield Bell will bring something extra to it.
“It will offer good honest food in a family environment which will hopefully bring more people into the town and stop them looking elsewhere for a meal.
“Hopefully people will come to us for food and then head into town for a drink. We will have higher prices on drinks because our main focus – 70 per cent – is on food where people will enjoy value for money on a meal with their drinks.”
Robert Robinson, town clerk for Welshpool, said the restaurant formed part of Welshpool’s regeneration project.
Mr Robinson said: “It’s good news for the town but I’m sure some people will disagree with the town council’s view.
“But plans have been in the pipeline for years and the development will create dozens of new jobs.”
Anyone who is interested in the remaining job vacancies is urged to visit the Smithfield Bell to pick up an application form.
Comments for: "1,000 apply for 50 jobs at Welshpool restaurant"
Andrew finch
But how many were really willing to apply for these mediocre jobs??, how many were told to apply ? and how many had a genuine interest in the role offered.
The vast amount of applicants were possibly due to the employment crisis not due to the wonderful wages and conditions these type of places offer.
adetheshades
So then Mr Finch what job do you hold that is brilliant, well paid and exciting?
Andrew finch
A job that is rewarding , i wish to do, and i am happy with , is that not most peoples aspirations?? .
Issue Low paid dead end jobs, i agree a small minority are happy with them and good for them, however the "majority" are not and that's my point.
Rupert Barrington Black
he is a second-hand furniture dealer.
Rewarding in its wat I suppose.
Andrew finch
Partially true , reward income compared to dishing out pu-ting meals and a pint of lager.
Two Tone
Does it really matter how many were willing? The bottom line is that 50 jobs have been brought to an area that needs them & I have no doubt that those responsible for hosting subsequent interviews shall be able to identify the applicants who want the job and those going through the motions.
I'd wager that the large number of applicants is due to the employment crisis too as otherwise the headline would have been along the lines of "New Welshpool restaurant cannot fill 50 positions"
I'm not sure why you appear to be so negative about this good news and actually I feel you owe an apology to the succesful candidates for refering to their jobs as 'mediocre'.
That's quite rude & uncalled for.
Two Tone
Dam !!!! I meant this as reply to Andrew Finch #1
Andrew finch
In all honesty they, the majority, if not all of the jobs will be mediocre but yes congrats are in order to applicants.
However barmen, kitchen assistants and waitress type jobs usually involve being subsidized by the tax payer through working tax credits due to poor wages .
So yes some low paid mediocre jobs have been created but we need to improve the quality of jobs available that involve a decent wage not where the successful applicant is in need of numerous benefits to just live ie housing benefit, working tax credits etc etc , i would also add how many jobs went to uk citizens ?? or is it the same as when tesco went looking for workers?.
We the tax payer should not be supporting low paid jobs simply for the benefit of a business who in reality cant afford decent pay , not saying this venture is one of those.
Andy
If any native of welshpool has indeed applied for these jobs it will have been at the instruction of the job centre...
They will be filled with eastern europeans because:
1/ they are willing to work for low pay
2/ they are willing to turn up and show some enthusiasm for mundane work: our homegrown youth now think that winning x-factor or marrying a footballer is the only acceptable way to come off benefits.
3/ the jobs will all be part time therefore will not earn enough to come off aforementioned benefits.
Prove me wrong!
Wenlock Un
Surely any amount of pay which reduces the amount of benefits claimed is a positive as is an employed individual in society over an unemployed one. The benefits trap is a big hurdle to overcome and there should be both carrot and stick to overcome the issues of work ethic you raise, Andy, with which I agree, but I think applies as much to yesterday's youth as today's.
Andrew, I think we can be picky about the quality of jobs available when everyone has one, good on all these people for getting out there and looking.
Karlos Marx
As with a lot of retail/catering jobs nowadays, the new employees at Marstons will be given a zero hours contract. Working in these conditions is an absolute nightmare as you never know what hours you will get in the following weeks. It's a struggle trying to pay bills/rent/mortgage when you salary goes up and down like a yoyo. Probably better off on the dole
Andrew finch
NOT better off on the dole , however more decent, well paid long term jobs with prospects need to be created these type of jobs just enable any government to manipulate unemployment figures.
Karlos Marx
The problem being there are very few decent well paid long term jobs with prospects. I agree about the gov massaging the unemployment figures, we will probably never know the real numbers, likey much worse than they are letting on.
eva land
My daughter was excited to be taking part in a scheme for the unemployed leading to a job after losing her previous part time work at a Sainsbury supermarket having been there 16 months.
It turned out to be 8 weeks unpaid work for 30 hours a week for a well known retail chain. The only job available at the end should they offer it would be 4 hours on a Saturday!
She felt like she was treated like someone with learning difficulties or an offender doing community service. There was no potential training to work on the tills and no account taken of her previous experience, so on the one hand she felt patronised, and the other was not going to gain anything useful.
The other staff were amazed and seem to feel slightly threatened by someone working but not being paid for their employer.
My daughter also had a letter threatening sanctions should she not comply.
She had a place at University but did not take it up due to the concept of debt knowing what a struggle it is for families from her own childhood.
Ironically,had we as her parents divorced, she and other siblings would have been better supported.
It is unfair and wrong of this government to punish the young and the truth is that unemployment is much much worse than their figures state as most work offered is very part time.