The opening of the new Primark store in Craigavon is now imminent with the retail giant having launched a recruitment campaign.
It is understood that the new outlet – to be housed in the former Debenhams unit at Rushmere – is to start trading within the next few months.
A full range of new jobs will be available when the shop gets up and running.
And the company has started to advertise those positions – both full and part-time – as it aims for a fast turnaround and to fill the vacancies necessary to launch the Co Armagh store.
Occupying a sales area of 30,800 sq ft, work on fitting out the new Primark store started in the summer and is now nearing completion.
The external sign still has to go up but that will happen within the coming days.
Armagh I first revealed Primark’s intentions to locate at Rushmere; the shopping centre had been without an anchor tenant since Debenhams ceased operations back in May last year.
Centre operator Central Craigavon Limited put an end to all speculation back in March when it exclusively told Armagh I that it was “delighted to announce that terms have been agreed with Primark for a new anchor store”.
“Primark is a fantastic addition to Rushmere,” manager Martin Walsh said at the time. “In all of our research over the years, Primark is a brand that our customers have been very keen to see, and this announcement is testimony to the success of the centre.
“We look forward to the opening later in the year.”
Primark, meanwhile, has said it is “excited to be creating a new shopping experience for our customers in the area”.
There is no exact indication of the number of jobs on offer at this time but it is known to represent a substantial and very significant boost to the local employment scene. There is a wide mix of responsibilities on offer.
The retailer is currently trying to recruit scores of retail assistants. Full-time roles – for a contracted 37.5 hours a week – offer hourly salaries of £10.10 after a probationary period. These roles involve eight-and-a-half hour shifts, Monday to Friday, with starting times of 10am, 11am or 1.30pm.
Part-time contracts – offering the same pay scale – are for 20 hours a week, again Monday to Friday, with these shifts to be completed in four-hour sequences.
Various weekend and evening shifts are available and would see workers undertake eight or 12 hours a week. These could be across full nine-hour days on Saturday or Sundays, or across four-hour shifts throughout either. Evening shifts are also four hours – either 5pm to 9pm or 6pm until 10pm.
The company is also seeking cash office retail assistants on part-time 20 hours a week contracts, and cash office retail assistants for weekends, which would be eight hours in total. Remuneration after probationary period is also £10.10 an hour.
Stockroom retail assistants for weekend roles – at 12 hours a week – are to be recruited t00.
And operations support staff – who will report directly to the store manager – will act as the main point of contact “to help maintain a safe working environment in store”. Such a position – for a 30-hour working week across Monday to Friday- will attract a salary of £10.61 hourly after the completion of a probationary period.
According to the company: “Primark offers an attractive pay rate, innovative training and development programmes and a fun, busy environment. Primark is just a great place to work.”
And the retailer, in advertising for roles, highlights its all-inclusive approach to employment as it states: “We are fully committed to supporting people with a disability in applying for our vacancies. If you have a disability and require support throughout the recruitment process you can contact us at disABILITY@primark.co.uk and let us know what adjustments you may need.”
