Arnold Clark to Boost UK Motor Industry with the Creation of 700 new Jobs

Online, August 31, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Arnold Clark, AM's Retailer of Year 2009 and Europe's largest independently owned motor dealer, has announced today that it will be creating 700 new jobs in the UK by February 2010. This coincides with a visit today from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, to Arnold Clark Vauxhall in Stretford.

The new positions are being created to strengthen and to add to the existing workforce at Arnold Clark. With 500 new sales jobs, 120 Modern Apprentices places and 80 supporting roles being created immediately to help the Group's new Sales developments and newly acquired sites in the North of England.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling said:

"Today's announcement by Arnold Clark, of 700 new jobs across the UK, is very good news. The UK car market is a vital part of our economy and that is why we introduced the car scrappage scheme at the Budget. The scheme is providing a vital boost to the UK car industry at a time when it needs it most"

Sir Arnold Clark, chairman and chief executive commented:

"The automotive industry is constantly changing and developing. With car sales being a more involved job, our sales teams need to spend more time with customers helping to establish their needs, to further reinforce the group's ethos to ensure that we provide genuine value for money and create high levels of customer satisfaction. We not only wish to employ 700 new members of staff but we are committed to investing heavily in training them, whether it is at our Arnold Clark Sales Academy or as a Modern Apprentice in motor mechanics."

Positions for new and used car sales are being created within the Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester, Warrington, Stafford and Huddersfield areas with posts being recruited for immediately.

Arnold Clark's ongoing expansion and future development plans include a new site in Huddersfield set to open its doors in October and a fully redeveloped Preston showroom, both of which will require numerous staff encompassing a variety of roles at all levels.

Sir Arnold Clark, chairman and chief executive, said, "With the global economy going through such a difficult period, our announcement today can only be seen as a positive step in helping to combat unemployment. The extra 700 jobs can partly be attributed to the stabilising of the car industry since the introduction of the Government's Scrappage Scheme in May."

Job breakdown per area
• NW/Manchester - 100-125
• NE - 50
• Birmingham - 75
• Scotland - around 500