12th Mar 2007 - 1600 Visit the Fair in Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld Retail Consortium held a jobs fair last week at Cumbernauld College for the new multi million pound Antonine Shopping Centre and attracted a staggering 1600 applicants for 300 jobs ranging from Saturday staff to drivers to managers. TK Maxx filled over half their positions on day one and the retailers were overwhelmingly impressed by the calibre of Lanarkshire's workforce.
The event was organised by the Cumbernauld Retail Consortium - set up especially to drive recruitment and training for the shopping centre. The Partnership includes North Lanarkshire Council, SEL, Jobcentre Plus, Routes to Work Ltd and Cumbernauld College. Retailers may be interested in another event at the end of April but nothing is yet confirmed.
Lynn Gow, Cumbernauld Retail Consortium said,
"We have been delighted with the success of the recruitment fair; it demonstrates how a joined up approach by public sector agencies can deliver real value for local people who want to get back into work. We look forward to working with all the retailers of the new Antonine Shopping Centre. We're hoping this model for recruitment can be used as best practice in the future for developments such as Ravenscraig."
The Consortium also filled 37 out of 40 training places for Cumbernauld College, offering unemployed people the chance to get retail skills, with an interview opportunity with one of the retailers at the end of the course. Courses will run in 2 sessions of 2 weeks starting this month.
Alasdair MacLeod - Next Retail PLC
"The recruitment fair has been a great success in our recruitment process. It was an excellent turnout and I believe will prove to be a very worthwhile event in our search for new employees. The success of the fair was a result of the organisation and support offered by the Cumbernauld Retail Consortium."
Ends
5th March 07
Issued by: Lynn Gow, Promotions Officer, Lanarkshire's Working
Tel: 01236 616 365
Email: GowL@northlan.gov.uk
Notes to the editor
Retailers at the fair included:
Woolworths PLC
Next Retail PLC
Quiz Clothing
Dunnes Stores
Claire's Accessories
TK Maxx
Dorothy Perkins
River Island
JJB Sports
Select Clothing
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