Wilkinsons To Create 1,000 Jobs - graduate jobs

Retail graduates could benefit from department store Wilkinsons' announcement that it will create up to 1,000 jobs through expansion plans.

The chain has decided to increase its store base after more than doubling profits in the year to the end of January from £29.4 million to £64.9 million.

Wilkinsons' sale of big-brand products at a discounted price and own-label items proved popular during the recession with takings rising 7.4% to £1.5bn.

The Nottinghamshire-based company, which has 337 shops across the country, opened 17 stores during the period and plans to open a similar number this year. The firm, which is celebrating its 80th birthday, is planning to target the south of England and create hundreds of jobs for retail graduates and other job-seekers along the way.

The creation of jobs is a contrast to the 1,000 roles that were lost in 2009 after a hi-tech system for ordering stock was introduced. The move saw 200 compulsory redundancies made, while other workers left of their own accord.