CALLINGTON has received a welcome boost with the news that local firms Ginsters and Tamar Foods Ltd are to take on 120 new staff.
Fiona MacInnes, personnel manager for Tamar Foods, said the company had acquired a new multi-million pound contract with an existing customer to supply supermarkets throughout the UK.
?We will be taking on 120 staff for the two companies and there will be a 12-week lead time to find staff and train them,? she said.
The jobs will boost the firm?s staffing level at its Tavistock Road, Callington, site to around 1,120 workers. A further 500 are employed at Launceston.
Ms MacInnes said the jobs would be permanent, not short-term contract, and would offer a number of different weekly options, from two days or four nights upwards.
The vacancies will include bakery operatives, machine operators and specialist roles, including industrial chefs.
?There is a lot of housing being built in Callington and we hope to attract local and different types of people,? she said.
Employees currently come from a 15 to 20-mile radius, with some coming from Plymouth.
?Another knock-on effect is that we are carrying out a lot of refurbishment, so are using local labour and suppliers ? providing a beneficial effect for the business community,? she said.
The firm has recently been carrying out a £15-million refurbishment of its Lynher Bakery.
The firms are initially holding open days to recruit staff in Plymouth city centre on May 2 and 3, with the possibility of holding further days at local shopping or town centres.
Callington portreeve Kath Pascoe said she was ?delighted? at the news.
?Anything that brings work to the town is a bonus. With all the new housing, it may help people to live and work in the town.
?Callington is growing and obviously needs more employment opportunities to stop it becoming a dormitory town.?