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Woolworths to open as a new store
More than 1,000 people are expected to queue for just 25 jobs at a new store planning to open in a former Woolworth's in Kettering
The Evening Telegraph can reveal QD Stores is opening in the former Woolworth's building in Kettering's High Street and the discount retailer is expecting to see a response similar to a two-day recruitment drive for its Wellingborough store in June.
Tell us what you think of the new store opening by commenting at the bottom of this story.
More than 1,800 job-seekers queued through the town centre to get an application form for the Wellingborough shop and QD Stores is planning the same recruitment campaign for the 25 positions at the Kettering shop.
Job-hunters will be able to pick up an application form on the first day for roles such as sales assistants and warehouse workers. They are then guaranteed a short interview if they return the following day with a completed application form.
Managing director, Justin Farrington Smith, said they are making preparations to deal with the demand for jobs ahead of the shop's opening later this year.
He said: "We will have a big personnel team going in to make sure we have it covered.
"We will see everyone who comes back with an application form and within 48 hours they will know if they have got a job.
"We were very pleased with how things went at Wellingborough so we will be doing the same thing in Kettering."
A date has yet to be set for the recruitment drive because there is still some building work to be carried out but the store is expected to open at the end of October.
The company is also applying for planning permission to create a garden centre behind the building.
Mr Farrington Smith said: "We have a very successful store in Peterborough and we wanted to move further west so Kettering and Wellingborough were the natural places to go."
Kettering Council leader Jim Hakewill said he was pleased another empty shop would be filled, saying: "Jobs are so important in these hard times and it also means that another shop will be brought back into use."
Kettering resident, Steve Purcell, of Northampton Road, said: "It's good that a big building like that is being used again. When you walk along the High Street, there's quite a few empty shops. "Lots of shops have opened but gone again after a month so it would be nice if QD could be there longer."
Another empty Woolworths store has been filled with a fashion and interior design store moving into the premises in Corby. Clothes chain Ethel Austin and partner interiors store Au Naturale open on Friday in Corporation Street.
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
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Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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