Morrisons’ new store in Bargoed is now open creating 250 new jobs.
Morrisons worked in partnership with Jobcentre Plus to offer pre-employment training to 60 local people and, of the 250 people recruited, 172 were previously unemployed.
The store is part of the brand new £24m retail development, which boasts a further seven units for lease and the opening has been celebrated by both Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Bargoed Chamber of Trade, whose representatives were involved in the official store opening.
Victoria Button, the President of the Bargoed Chamber of Trade, cut the ribbon to declare the store open, supported by Councillor Harry Andrews, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Councillor Michael Gray, the County Mayor, and Councillor Alan Higgs, the Town Council Mayor.
Councillor Harry Andrews, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “I am thrilled that the Council was able to play a part in the official opening of the Morrisons store. All of the regeneration works will undoubtedly breathe new life into Bargoed and it marks the dawn of a new era for the town centre. To see the former mining community well on its way to becoming the thriving town it once was, is truly fantastic.”
The new Morrisons store in Bargoed is a Craft Skills Academy with staff trained in a range of traditional skills such as butchery, fishmongery, bakery and flower arranging. As part of the Craft Skills Academy, the Morrisons team in Bargoed have undergone intensive training on product knowledge so that they can advise customers and suggest cooking tips, food combinations and matching wines.
The new store will also have its own Community Champion, Alison Matuszczyk, to help put the store at the heart of the local community by supporting and coordinating initiatives that will positively help the people of Bargoed.
The store will have its own budget to help support local good causes, either by providing prizes for charity raffles or by donating food items for events such as school fetes or festivals. Local community and charity groups will be able to book time to help pack bags on the checkouts to fund-raise and requests for food bank collections are also supported.
David Beard, Morrisons Store General Manager, said: “We’re delighted that our new store has been so warmly welcomed by the Council and by other business through the Chamber of Trade. Most importantly, we’re looking forward to welcoming shoppers into the store and to making a positive difference to the town through our work in the community.”
