WITH work on a £40million new service station well under way, plans for a recruitment drive to fill 150 jobs have been announced.
The development, between M5 Junctions 11a and 12, is the brainchild of Gloucestershire Gateway Trust and Westmorland, and they have promised that local people will get priority for the new jobs.
It has now been revealed that efforts to fill the positions on the site will kick into gear in January.
A spokesman for Westmorland said: "We already have a number of local people who have joined the Buckingham Construction Group Team to help with the build.
"Next week our search will start to find the business manager who will have overall responsibility for Gloucester Services, which will open in time for Summer 2014.
"The majority of our recruitment starts in the new year, however we are already working with various community and county based partners, who will help us host a number of free skills workshops, pre-recruitment.
"This will help equip people with the necessary skills to apply for the 150 jobs.
"We are particularly keen that residents of Matson, Stonehouse, Podsmead, White city and Tuffley apply as well as people who are passionate about food and great customer service."
Liam Kelch, chairman of the Matson and Robinswood Residents' Group, was delighted with the news and has urged people to apply for the positions.
He said: "Unemployment is the biggest problem we have here so it is great news that the jobs are coming.
"People should definitely get their CVs ready, this is a great opportunity for them."
People can contact Westmorland on their website at www.gloucesterservices.com, which also provides up to date information on the build, skills workshops and the recruitment timetable.
Alternatively people can just pop into the "On Toast" shop in Matson Avenue to express their interest.
