A TOWN councillor has raised his concerns that the new Waitrose supermarket may not employ Droitwich Spa people in the available job positions.

Councillor John Cook (Lab-West) is worried the 170 opportunities at the new Saltway supermarket will not be filled by Spa folk.

He said: "I am concerned senior members of staff and management at the store may be brought in from other branches of Waitrose rather than being recruited locally.

"It is worrying that local people are not going to be given the opportunity to apply for better retail jobs.

"I understand they might need people from other stores for training purposes but I hope that they try to recruit senior staff from Droitwich."

But a Waitrose spokeswoman said: "We certainly don't insist that management vacancies are filled by partners who have previously worked for Waitrose. We do, however, advertise our management positions internally first before advertising externally and this is in keeping with the policy of most other large companies.

"Our previous experience shows that managers who are familiar with the business are more easily able to steer the new shop and ensure that customers receive the standard of service they expect.

"We will be recruiting the vast majority of our non-management partners, as well as an assistant section manager, from the local area.

"They will become co-owners in their business and enjoy a variety of benefits, many of which are unique, including a final salary pension scheme and a share in profit, which is awarded as an annual bonus."

Waitrose is holding a recruitment event this Saturday between 10am and 4pm at its Kidderminster branch.