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Cannock designer outlet village helping people find new jobs

A training academy has been launched to help people pursue job opportunities at the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet village opening in 2020.

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How the Cannock Designer Outlet Village will look

Jobseekers can sign up now to get ahead with training, as part of a new programme delivered by Walsall College.

The training has been developed with the Cannock Designer Outlet in mind so it gives applicants a competitive edge.

Over two weeks, trainees will receive an overview of retail operations as well as develop an understanding of brand image and the customer experience.

Cannock Chase Council, Cannock Job Centre Plus and McArthurGlen are all supporting the college’s programme.

Debbie Illidge, senior curriculum leader at the college said: “The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet is set to be one of the area’s biggest employers so it makes sense for them to start identifying potential staff to embody their retail and customer-service values.

“Recruiting individuals directly from the area is a fantastic way of investing in local skills and we are pleased to take a lead role in this.”

After completing the programme, trainees will kept informed of recruitment opportunities coming up at the outlet in the near future.

John Ralston, McArthurGlen’s Regional Operations Director for the UK, France and Belgium, said: “Our new designer outlet will be a major visitor attraction in the West Midlands when it opens next year, generating 1,000 jobs for the local area and supporting around £20 million of employment income every year.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Walsall College and Cannock Chase District Council to launch this employment programme, helping local people get the skills they need to benefit from the range of opportunities we’ll be creating but also elsewhere in the retail sector.”

The designer outlet will create 1,000 jobs for locals when it opens in the area next year.

Workers began clearing the site to make way for a £160 million McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, on Mill Green in Cannock in July and towards the end of January this year work began to erect steel frames on the site, which will make up shops.

The finished site will be completed by 2020 with phase one set to be home to 80 luxury brands.

There will also be a number of restaurants and cafes, a children’s play area, bike parking for cyclists and 1,400 car parking spaces.

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