EFFORTS to secure jobs at Cheshire Oaks’s flagship M&S store for local people have succeeded in getting 46 employed.
A further two people are on the waiting list for jobs after Marks & Spencer, West Cheshire College, Jobcentre Plus and Cheshire West and Chester Council were involved in the initiative.
Cllr Herbert Manley, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s executive member for prosperity, hailed a ‘fantastic outcome for local people’.
Local councillor Justin Madders said: “As leader of the former borough council who secured agreement of Marks & Spencer to come to Ellesmere Port initially, I am delighted that years of hard work finally came to fruition.
“It was always one of our chief concerns to ensure that this flagship store would bring real economic benefits to the town and we were very clear from the start that this would mean as many jobs as possible going to local people.”
Nine pre-employment courses, delivered by West Cheshire College, were provided for potential employees.
Over a two-week period the candidates learned about the key aspects of working in the retail sector, had the opportunity to gain a Level 1 qualification in retail knowledge and were provided with interview preparation skills before attending an interview with the store.
Ellesmere Port resident Victoria Millington, who had been unemployed for four years, has now started work at the Marks & Spencer flagship store in Cheshire Oaks which opens later this month.
She was supported on the Work Programme by Cheshire West and Chester Council, and is one of 46 local people who have secured jobs.
Victoria said: “I am delighted to have been given this opportunity. I attended a course at the HHEET Centre in Ellesmere Port in February to help prepare me for the Marks & Spencer pre-employment course in April. Both courses were excellent.”
Louise Cassidy, HR business partner at Marks & Spencer, said: “The course helped to equip potential recruits with an understanding of working in a retail environment and to develop the skills and attitude that we seek in our employees.
“Many of our new colleagues have joined us in the past few weeks as we prepare for the opening of the store later this month.”
Jane Stanley-McCrave, employment development manager for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “The outcome has exceeded our expectations and it is a model we will continue to use in the future.”
The store on Longlooms Road will be the UK’s second largest Marks and Spencer and opens on August 29.
