50 new jobs at Hull's new-look Debenhams department store
A MULTI-million pound refurbishment at one of the city's most popular stores has created 50 jobs.
Long-serving staff at Debenhams in Prospect Street relaunched its three-storey shop yesterday and unveiled the results of the investment to shoppers.
As other companies in the city announce significant job losses, Debenhams store manager Steven Marsay said he was pleased the store had been able to recruit workers in Hull.
He said: "It's a bit of good news for the city and we are proud of all our staff.
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"We now offer more across the store and we're using each floor to its full potential."
The cosmetics hall on the ground floor has benefited from an overhaul, almost doubling in size. It now features a number of new beauty brands including Chanel and Fake Bake.
The restaurant has been revam- ped and expanded by 2,500sq ft.
Laura Atkinson, 21, of east Hull, had been searching for a job for six months before being offered work as a senior therapist at Debenhams.
She said: "I studied beauty therapy at college but ended up on Job Seeker's Allowance because I couldn't find work.
"I was so excited to be given the job working for Arch Angelz in the store because it's so new to Hull."
It is almost 50 years since the department store opened its doors in the city, taking over the former premises of Thornton-Varley and Co Ltd.
Geoff Powell, 59, of Hedon, has worked in many departments in the store for 42 years.
He said: "A lot of us have worked here since we were young. I had more hair back then.
"I even met my wife here and now we've been married for more than 30 years and have three children."
He helped cut the ribbon at Debenhams with colleagues Lesley Marvin and Gill Fenwick.
Lesley, of Bransholme, has worked at the Hull store for 28 years.
She said: "Everything is always changing and progressing in the shop and no day at work is the same.
"This has been the biggest refurbishment for about 20 years and it looks fantastic."
Comments
by matthullkr
Thursday, November 08 2012, 5:38PM
“it will just cancel out the closesure of house of fraiser which is due next year”
by PurpleParrot
Saturday, October 27 2012, 6:03PM
“I sincerely hope some of these new employees are to be deployed in the 'new-look' restaurant. At lunchtime the wait can be interminable - and lots of customers just don't have the time to wait with only short lunch breaks”
by CarmellaBrown
Saturday, October 27 2012, 5:18PM
“that is a lot of jobs recently made i hope to see a drop in unemployent when the numbers get published”
by Strangley
Saturday, October 27 2012, 1:12PM
“I hope that some of these 50 new jobs are concerned with the admin of signing up new store card holders. I have lost count of the times I have been stuck in a queue at the check out while the assistant has been tied up with this.
If you are an identity scammer, you can pick up all you need to know about a person, just by standing in line & keeping your ears open.”
by farfutavision
Saturday, October 27 2012, 10:29AM
“Debenhams must be over the moon to have invested millions and now have Poundland as their neighbour.”