Supermarket jobs hope for Oldham

Date published: 13 January 2009

OLDHAM is hoping to benefit from plans by supermarket group Morrisons to create 5,000 jobs this year.

The Bradford–based business — the UK’s fourth largest supermarket — currently has 117,000 staff across 382 stores, including one in Hollinwood and one in Failsworth.

Morrisons said the plans were in line with its previously–stated target of increasing selling space by one million square feet over three years.

The supermarket added that the specific locations and nature of the new jobs had not been revealed. In addition, 18,000 of its staff would be working towards some form of qualifications under the company’s Fresh Food Academy scheme.

These include NVQs in retail, full apprenticeships for butchers, bakers and fishmongers, as well as optional key skills training in maths and English.

Norman Pickavance, the supermarket’s human resources director, said: “Even in these challenging economic conditions, Morrisons is committed to hiring and training new people to keep retail as the engine room of the economy and support our continuing growth.”

Rival Sainsbury’s said at its Christmas trading update last week that the group would create 4,000 jobs this year.


Iceland bought 51 stores from the administrators of collapsed retailer Woolworths on Friday with plans to create 2,500 jobs. It is not yet known if the closed Oldham Woolworths store in High Street is among the portfolio.