Jobs rush sparked by Gateway development (From Thisisdorset)

Jobs rush sparked by Gateway development

9:00am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in Latest By Joanna Davis

Weymouth Beefeater general manager Paul Male, right, with from left, deputy general manager Ross Boreham and assistant manager Dean Senior

A NEW development offering hundreds of jobs is attracting massive interest in the town.

Nearly seven jobseekers applied for every post at the first phase of the Weymouth Gateway development with more lining up for the next 400 posts which will be advertised over the coming months.

There were 382 applications for 55 posts at the new Beefeater restaurant at the Weymouth Gateway site.

General manager Paul Male said: “We were surprised by the number of people who applied.

“The standard we have got is fantastic.

“We were looking for people with personality and people who were confident, bubbly and outgoing.”

Around 50 per cent of the successful jobseekers were not from a catering background, Mr Male added.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said more jobs are needed for Weymouth and Portland.

He added: “It was expected that a lot of people would apply for these jobs.

“I think the creation of these jobs and determination of these people is to be applauded.

“It is recognised that everyone in the community wants more jobs.

“The government is doing everything it can to create more.”

Mr Drax said Weymouth appeared to be bucking the national trend when it comes to job creation.

“The fact that these jobs are coming to Weymouth is good.

“There are more jobs being created here than elsewhere in the country.

“It is going some way to moving us away from reliance on seasonal jobs,” he said.

There will be hundreds more posts available at the £60million Mercery Road development in coming months, with the new Sainsbury’s store due to open by the autumn.

Work is getting under way on the store this spring.

The supermarket chain will bring 400 full and part time jobs to the area.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We are looking forward to starting work on our new store in Weymouth this spring once New Look finish their works.

“The store is scheduled to open this autumn and we will ensure the local community are kept up to date during the works.”

Workers at the New Look offices have transferred across from their old building to a new three-storey head office.

The Sainsbury’s store will be made out of Portland stone and will have a white appearance to complement other buildings on the site.

There will also be a petrol station.

The £60million Weymouth Gateway site also has a Premier Inn hotel.

See sainsburys-weymouth.co.uk for more information.

The Beefeater restaurant is due to open on April 22 with an official launch day a fortnight later.

It will be open from 6.30am to 11pm seven days a week and will offer 220 covers.

Stilt walkers and magicians will be entertaining crowds and Weymouth and Portland Mayor Margaret Leicester will attend.