Jobs window opens for 200 at new shop

The supermarket at the centre of a Black Country town's regeneration is looking to recruit more than 200 staff at two recruitment days later this month.

As Willenhall's former Yale lockworks site is transformed into a new Morrison's in time for a New Year opening, store bosses will be looking for suitable staff on October 11 and 12 at the Wisemore Campus of Walsall College, in Littleton Street West.

Gail Roberts, retail recruitment manager, said: "We are delighted to be bringing new jobs to the area and are confident that we will be able to build a team that can offer great customer service to the people of Willenhall."

Around 200 people applied for 45 management posts advertised in August. Among the 200 jobs now available are cashiers, butchers and bakers.

Recruitment sessions are from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, October 11, and 10am to 7pm on Monday, October 12.

About 150 workers are involved at the Wood Street construction site, and are currently building the interior walls into the shell of the supermarket.

Willenhall South Councillor Carl Creaney said: "You can drive past there every day and see the improvements.

"The layout of the road is clearly defined now, it's going to make the road system around there better."

The scheme will include a 542-space car park and a mixture of family homes and flats.

New footpaths will be created leading from the town's central shopping zone, while a new link road will be created between Walsall Street and Wood Street to ease congestion.

A £40,000 public artwork, The Kindnesses of Willenhall, is also being designed and will adorn one of the store's outside walls.

Spokeswoman for Morrisons, Katie Neasham, said the work at the site is continuing on schedule for the opening in early 2010.