Morrisons staffing pledge delights Newport chamber boss
The chairman of Newport's Chamber of Commerce has said he is 'delighted' with a pledge from Morrisons that it will recruit the bulk of the staff for its new town store from within the area.
Morrisons has announced three-quarters of the 250 jobs at its new supermarket in Newport will go to people who live nearby.
The supermarket giant has signed a deal to open a store in Audley Avenue.
Pat Beech, leader of Newport & District Chamber of Commerce, said: "If they stick to it, that is fantastic news. We need jobs in Newport, particularly if all the proposed houses go ahead."
Mark Thompson, Morrisons development executive, said the firm was committed to providing good job opportunities.
He said: "We thrive on employing, motivating and developing highly committed local people and we provide good training with transferable skills to help people create real careers.
"Our industry-leading training and apprenticeship scheme will ensure the new store will be a great place to work as well as shop.
"If our staff choose Morrisons, there are real opportunities available as 80 per cent of our employees achieve promotion in the company."
New staff will be trained in a range of skills like butchery, fishmongery and baking, a Morrisons spokesman said.
Morrisons has exchanged contracts to build the store in Newport and planning permission already exists for a supermarket on the site.
But the firm does have a clause to pull out from the deal should a larger Sainsbury's supermarket be given the go-ahead in Station Road.
That application, on green land owned by Telford & Wrekin Council, is currently the subject of a planning inquiry.
Morrisons said it would be a 'store of the future' with a new 'fresh market' format.
Mr Thompson added: "This deal with Audley Avenue Business Park is great news for Newport as well as Morrisons."
