DIY superstore creates new jobs

By Paul Geater

IPSWICH is to get a major jobs boost early next year when DIY giant B&Q starts recruiting for its new Ransomes Europark superstore, it was revealed today.

The company is to start building the new multi-million pound store early next year and it should be open for business during the autumn.

A total of 250 jobs are to be created, a mixture of both full and part-time posts.

Recruitment is due to start in March with new staff being sent to other B&Q stores nearby – at Bury Road and Grafton Way in Ipswich – for training before the new store opens its doors to the public.

The new superstore is to be built beside the existing Ransomes Euro Retail Park, with access from that.

It was given full planning permission late last year, but the development plans have been accelerated.

"Originally the plan was for it to open in 2004, but we have now heard that

programme has been speeded up," said Ipswich council's head of development control Mike Smith.

Much of the site to be used by the new superstore is currently empty, but some has been occupied by businesses which are getting new premises as part of the deal.

The store will be similar in scale to B&Q's existing superstore on the Anglia Retail Park near Asda, on the opposite side of town.

The new store will not affect its Grafton Way warehouse, which employs 65 people.

"The Ransomes store will be in addition to our current outlets in the area, not a replacement for any of them," said a spokeswoman for B&Q.

It is expected to attract shoppers from the Woodbridge and Felixstowe areas as well as east Ipswich – and will be going head-to-head with arch-rival Homebase, which has a superstore nearby at Warren Heath.

B&Q, part of the Kingfisher group, has a policy of employing more mature staff.

"We shall be actively recruiting in the area from March – people looking for jobs won't be able to miss our adverts," the spokeswoman said.