Graduates Wooed By Tesco Expansion - graduate jobs

The continuing strength of the retail job market has been further underlined by supermarket giant Tesco's announcment that it will create 800 new jobs at a new customer service centre to support its personal finance operation.

The site in central Glasgow is expected to open in the first half of next year and will support the company's drive to offer a full banking service.

Edinburgh-based Tesco Personal Finance currently has six million customer accounts and offers 28 different financial products and services, including general insurance and personal loans.

Tesco has been quick to pounce amid the banking crisis, relaunching TPF as a savings brand to capitalise on rock-bottom consumer confidence in established brands, particularly among loyal Tesco customers.

The group recently bought out former partner Royal Bank of Scotland, snapping up the 50% it did not own in TPF, while there has been speculation that Tesco may bid for Northern Rock when the Government sells the lender.

Tesco also recently started opening bank branches in its stores.