MORRISONS has promised to create nearly 200 new jobs when it opens its new town centre store.

The supermarket giant plans to recruit for more than 180 new jobs at the store in Regent Circus before it opens this autumn.

Although the building, which forms part of plans for the new leisure complex at the foot of Victoria Road and Eastcott Hill, is not yet completed, Morrisons has already announced its recruitment drive ahead of the store’s opening.

Store General Manager Richard McCann said: “We are searching for great people who would like to join us in our Swindon store.

“We want to deliver more of what matters to Swindon customers when our store opens this autumn.

“We would like to provide ‘job for life’ opportunities for new colleagues and help them build a career in retailing. We won’t just be providing a job, we’re committed to training our colleagues so that they have the capability to move from the shop floor to the top floor.”

Many of the new opportunities will be craft skills jobs, such as butchery, bakery and fishmongery.

The store will also be recruiting for staff to run its continental style deli, a patisserie-style cake shop and a ‘Fresh to Go’ take away area.

Staff will also be expected to uphold the supermarket chain’s core values of quality fresh food through its market street concept while maintaining value for money.

All employees will be offered career opportunities with intensive training on food and craft skills through the Morrisons Academy, which will help the store develop a quality experience to customers.

The news has been welcomed by many in the town, including MP for South Swindon, Robert Buckland.

He said: “I am very pleased indeed to hear this news and hope that Morrisons will do everything they can to recruit locally, working with our local Job Centre for example. Coupled with the success of Morrisons Eldene and Waitrose in Wichelstowe, this is good news for Swindon.”

Work on the Regent Circus development started last summer and as well as the Morrisons store, there will be a multi-screen Cineworld cinema and a range of restaurants including Nando’s, Coal, Ask and Prezzo.

More than £50m has been invested in the project, located on the former Swindon College site.

Work on the development has caused some disruption on the roads, but residents and businesses are in agreement that the development will be of huge economic benefit to the town.

  • For more information about the positions available at Morrisons, or to find out how to apply, visit Swindon’s JobCentre Plus. Email applications will open on May 27 - email Swindon.morrisonsjobs@dwp.gsi.gov.uk.