More than 1,000 jobs will be up for grabs at Poundland in the West Midlands as part of a bumper Christmas recruitment drive, it was announced today.

The discount giant is recruiting seasonal staff for its distribution centres in Willenhall and Bilston plus around 200 others in its shops across the region. Demand for jobs is expected to be “crazy”.

Poundland recruitment co-ordinator Sarah Green said today the firm had decided to recruit through the Job Centre this year due to the expected demand.

Warehouse jobs including order pickers and forklift drivers on shifts are being filled through agencies including Walsall-based Tudor Employment. “The volume of applications compared to how many jobs there are is crazy,” said Ms Green.

Other big name retailers including HMV also announced recruitment drives in the West Midlands today. HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said all stores, including branches in Walsall, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Birmingham, would be almost doubling their staffing levels until January.

“We’re looking at up to 150 fixed-term seasonal colleagues in the area,” he said.

Also taking on staff is Currys in Wednesbury, which is looking for up to 30 temporary workers, while Ikea nearby has vacancies for around 20 staff. Clinton Cards starts its Christmas recruitment next month with up to 50 extra workers in larger stores, while TK Maxx is taking on 250 staff at its distribution centre in Walsall.

By Chris Moriarty