1,800 extra staff at Matalan

Discount retail chain Matalan has kicked off a recruitment drive to hire 1,800 staff.

The firm is hiring 1,500 temporary staff for the festive period and 300 permanent employees for new stores at Cheetham Hill, Elgin in Morayshire and Colindale in north London.

Matalan, which has 203 stores, including one at Oldham’s Alexandra Retail Park, said it is creating jobs “at a time when this is really needed for the UK”.

Last week supermarket giant Sainsbury’s said it would create up to 20,000 seasonal jobs, of which 1,000 are likely to be retained in full–time roles.

Matalan’s three new stores will be the first of a major expansion programme by the group, which could see as many as 100 extra stores opened in coming years.