Westfield Shopping centre
London's largest shopping centre opening in White City
Westfield London the £1.6bn retail and leisure development at White City, is being built on a 46 acre site just north of Shepherd's Bush. Spanning 1.5 million square feet, it is expected to bring 4,000 jobs in a previously disadvantaged area.
It will be the largest shopping mall in Europe within an urban area, taking over from the Manchester Arndale, and be the third largest shopping centre in the UK behind MetroCentre and Bluewater.
The centre is due to open on 30th October 2008. There will be major main high street stores (such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Waitrose and Next), 265 smaller retail units and a wide selection of cafes and brasseries.
The scheme will have:
• A two-level retail and a mezzanine floor
• A new luxury area within the centre dedicated to luxury and design fashion brands
• A 14 screen cinema
• A new library and children's nursery
• Affordable housing schemes which will deliver over 200 new homes
An unusual aspect of the development is a new high end retail area to be called The Village. Building on experience in attracting high end retailers to its Australian malls, developer Westfield hopes to attract brands unheard of in the London shopping centres. Louis Vuitton has signed up for a unit in the area along with the likes of Mulberry, Tiffany & Co, Thomas Pink, Armani, Duchamp, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Gieves & Hawkes, Tommy Hilfiger and TM Lewin - arguably establishing The Village at Westfield London as London's third biggest luxury retailing centre after the West End and Sloane Square.
Recruitment for the October opening is already well under way with the full range of vacancies being advertised.
Vacancies include many part-time and full-time retail opportunities as well as support services, such as cleaning, accounts and concierge. As opening approaches Connexions advisers in Kensington & Chelsea are making contact with centre employers and discussing the recruitment of young people. Current vacancies on LOIS include:
L19001084 Boots the Chemist - Sales & Healthcare Assistants
L19001085 Monsoon Accessorize - Sales Assistants
L19001086 WH Smith - Sales Assistant
L19001087 Marks & Spencer - Customer Assistant
L19001088 Debenhams - Sales Adviser
L19001089 Debenhams - Sales Adviser
L19001090 Waitrose - Supermarket Assistants
L19001091 Next - Sales Consultant
L19001092 Next - Stockroom Assistant
Further opportunities will be added over the coming months.
For young people from Kensington & Chelsea interested in applying for jobs at Westfield a number of preparation events are being offered. Contact Eugene Biggs for further details.
