300 hopefuls apply for just 11 Newport cafe jobs

Almost 300 people applied for just 11 jobs at a new coffee house in Newport, its owner said today.

Bernie Foster said she spent five weeks going through 298 applications for four full-time and seven part-time jobs for her Costa coffee outlet which opened on High Street last week. Mrs Foster interviewed 96 candidates who she described as being of 'exceptional calibre'.

She added the current economic climate meant people were struggling to find work.

"Sadly for the past couple of years receiving such a large number of applications has become quite common,"she said.

"What's been different in Newport is the calibre of candidates – it was very high.

"We had people with a lot of skill sets and lots of qualifications. Pretty much everyone we saw we would be happy to employ. I was really impressed, so much so making a decision on who to choose was really difficult.

"Normally when you do interviews the strong candidates emerge but I would have been happy to employ half or even two thirds of the people I saw."

Mrs Foster said she believes the career progression available at Costa along with the lack of jobs elsewhere led to the large number of applications.

She said: "We offer a great training scheme where our employees can pick up an array of skills and take part in management courses. There is opportunity for advancement which attracts people.

"But everyone knows it's now very tough to not only find a job but find one that is secure."

Pat Beech, chairman of Newport Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said he was shocked at the large amount of applications but added he is still opposed to a new Sainsbury's supermarket in the town despite it creating 300 new jobs.

He said: "It's amazing that almost 300 people have applied to Costa and it just goes to show how tough the job market is.

"Lots of people out there are looking for work, people often approach me for jobs and I know there is a particular demand for part-time work in Newport.

"The Sainsbury's store will create jobs but that's no good if it kills the high street. It could take away more jobs than it creates."