News Morrisons to create 7,000 new jobs during 2009, exceeding initial target by 40%

• Morrisons has exceeded its target of 5,000 new jobs for 2009, reaching this target 5 months early 


• An additional 2,000 jobs are targeted by the year end, bringing the total job creation for 2009 to 7,000


• One third of new recruits are coming from the 18-24 year old group all of whom receive thorough training 


• Strong emphasis on traditional skills, 200 new butchers will be recruited over the year 


• Potential new employees attracted by the opportunity of long-term career progression, the variety of shift-work available and skills based development on offer


• Morrisons is unique in having its own Food Academy which aims to train 100,000 people to NVQ level 2 by Spring 2011


• Almost 500 apprentices due to be trained this year with the majority of these being in the 18-24 year old group


• We are going from national to nationwide with the opening of over 30 new stores since the beginning of the year, and more still to come

Norman Pickavance, Morrisons Group HR Director said “These opportunities demonstrate the growth of Morrisons, with over 30 new stores opened since the beginning of the year, and the strong opportunities for career progression from the shop floor to the top floor.

Of the top executives in the company, 30% of them started life in-store. 95% of our Store General Managers are promoted internally. We also employ over 36,000 18-24 year olds – one of the hardest hit groups by unemployment – as we believe in training from the ground upwards and investing in our people.

We’re attracting record numbers to our recruitment events – over 30,000 to date have registered an interest in working with us, and a recent event for 250 jobs at a forthcoming Morrisons store was attended by over 4,800 people”.
 
Roles available:
The roles currently being recruited for vary from checkout operators, to butchers, fishmongers, bakers and other staff to serve on the Morrisons ‘Market Street’ fresh food counters, as well as department supervisors and managers.

The recruitment process for stores is ongoing – details can be found at local job centres or via your nearest Morrisons store.

ENDS

Notes:
Morrisons is currently at the peak of opening over 30 stores as part of its Co-Op/Somerfield store acquisition programme, as well as additional new stores such as Welling, due to open later this year.