900 people apply for just 30 jobs

More than 900 people have applied for just 30 jobs at a Swedish hardware store opening at Dudley's Merry Hill Centre, it was announced today.

Clas Ohlson opens at the centre on November 25. It will be the eighth UK branch of the store. Recruitment for the full and part-time vacancies is ongoing and interviews are being held this week and next.

UK managing director Mark Gregory said he was delighted by the number of applications received.

He said: "We were encouraged to have received over 900 applications for jobs. We will be able to put a great team together."

The firm said it recognised that in the current climate, with many people losing jobs, it expected a large volume of applications.

Those who are successful will be sent to the company's headquarters in Sweden for training.

Hundreds of applicants also went for jobs at electrical retailer Best Buy which recently opened a store at the Merry Hill Centre.

Meanwhile Merry Hill Centre manager Westfield is this week deciding whether to host a jobs fair.

A recruitment event held annually at Brierley Hill Civic Hall by the Department for Work and Pensions was axed this year.

The DWP said the 2009 event had been less successful than previously.

Merry Hill said it wanted to help retailers recruit for new and seasonal positions, and department store Debenhams is expected to have around 60 vacancies.

The 2009 Christmas jobs fair at Merry Hill was hailed by organisers Jobcentre Plus as the busiest ever.

More than 2,000 attended to fill 500 seasonal positions at the centre.

In the current economic downturn more than 600 people scrambled for a dozen part-time positions at the Black Country Living Museum last year.

The positions for costumed guides paid just the minimum wage and applicants included a former policeman and ex soldier.