Business activity across the North West continues to rise - and it's now a better time than ever to be looking for a job.
Those are just two of the headlines we've seen reported over the past few days, and the number of firms making big recruitment announcements in recent weeks would certainly back up those assertions.
As recovery from the Covid pandemic continues, major employers such as Matalan, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and Beelivery are among those to have announced they are looking for new hires in Liverpool, Manchester, Chester and further afield.
Has your firm created jobs or is a recruitment drive planned across the North West? Email tom.houghton@reachplc.com with the full details.
Here, BusinessLive rounds up the companies from across the region who have made big job creation announcements in recent weeks:
Beelivery
A North West-based delivery firm that already employs 50,000 海角视频 drivers has said it will double that number over the coming two years.
Beelivery has begun another enormous recruitment drive, with the hired drivers able to pick and choose when they work, and accept or reject trips as they wish.
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Launched in 2015, it's not the first massive jobs announcement by the firm in recent months. In September last year, the firm announced it was to hire 20,000 staff - taking its total headcount to 40,000 by Christmas. That figure is now 50,000 - and is set to grow to 100,000 by 2023.
The Cheshire firm connects independent drivers with customers, promises quick delivery of essential or emergency groceries within 15-60 minutes - and said demand has “surged”.
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Aldi
Budget supermarket giant Aldi has revealed plans to create around 270 new jobs across its Cheshire stores before Christmas.
The 海角视频’s fifth-largest supermarket chain is looking for people of all levels of experience to fill roles at its stores and distribution centres across the region, with salaries of up to £47,000.
This includes apprenticeships and part-time positions such as store assistant and caretaker roles, all the way up to store manager.
Mission Labs
A North West-based cloud communications firm has announced it will double its headcount over the next year to over 200 employees.
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Mission Labs was acquired earlier this year by listed firm Gamma Communications plc, and today also announced it will move its North West base from Lancashire to Manchester city centre - an 11,000sq ft space at Arbeta on Northampton Road.
Damian Hanson, who co-founded the firm back in 2016 with David Hague, said the move, which will see Mission Labs more than double its existing office footprint, supports plans for "rapid growth" of the company’s products and services which serve thousands of customers.
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CarFinance 247
A Manchester-headquartered car finance brand has revealed plans to hire more than 125 people to meet the growing needs of the company as it responds to "significant consumer demand".
CarFinance 247, which is part of the 247 Group, will boost its workforce by 20% this summer at its Manchester base.
The group also includes 247 Money which recently announced a securitisation deal worth up to £305m with backing from NatWest.
Led by entrepreneurial brothers, Reg and Louis Rix, CarFinance 247 is now hiring across its divisions with a focus on building an enhanced sales team to support consumers.
The team will be supported by additional roles in technology and data, developing a new cloud-based CRM.
Virgin Media
Virgin Media has announced it will create 100 new customer service jobs in Manchester as the firm continues the rollout of its ultrafast network.
The firm, which has been praised for investing in the city and "providing brilliant career opportunities", said applications for the full and part-time roles based in Wythenshawe are now open.
It currently employs over 450 customer service staff across the city, with its wider mission to "upgrade the 海角视频 and supercharge communities".
TalkTalk
TalkTalk is set to take on 60 new employees through the Government's Kickstart Scheme after the initial near 50-strong cohort led to a new hire.
The Kickstart scheme, launched last year by the 海角视频 Government, provides funding for employers to create six-month work placements for 16- to 24-year-olds in receipt of Universal Credit.
The Salford-based company's move follows the success of the first intake of ‘Kickstarters’ earlier this year, which enabled the firm to create opportunities for almost 50 young people.
Sophie Eccleston, 24, from Eccles has now joined TalkTalk as part of the first Kickstart integration.
Through the scheme, she secured a support role in the Enterprise Operations team. Just weeks into her placement, she was offered a full-time role and became a permanent member of the team.
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The Very Group
The Very Group has welcomed 11 new recruits to its customer care, tech bar and colleague experience teams as part of the Government's Kickstart scheme.
The roles, which were open via Job Centre Plus to 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit, will provide work experience at Very’s Liverpool-based HQ over the next six months.
The firm said it will supplement the ‘Kickstarters’ Government-funded wage, and expects a number of the new recruits to have the opportunity to apply for permanent roles at the end of their placements.
EveryTrade
A family firm of builders has struck a joint venture partnership deal with a property development business and will now create 50 new jobs.
Chris Shaw, founder and CEO of Manchester firm EveryTrade shook hands on the agreement with Liverpool business Emperor Holdings after agreeing terms with managing director Alex Riddick.
Mr Riddick began growing a portfolio in the student property market in 2016 after identifying opportunities within the HMO sector in Liverpool.
Joseph Heler
A Cheshire cheesemaker has created 60 jobs at its headquarters following record growth.
Joseph Heler said the recruitment drive comes in the run up to the Christmas peak, and follows the firm having boosted its headcount from 166 to 200 over the past 18 months.
The new recruits will work across the Nantwich firm's production, across a variety of permanent and fixed-term opportunities in roles covering cheesemaking, packing, grating, waxing and blending.
Matalan
Retail giant Matalan has announced it will create over 200 'Kickstarter' placements for 16-24 year olds by offering industry-recognised qualifications and work experience.
The Merseyside-based firm said the move to support the Government's £2bn Kickstart scheme is part of its Early Careers proposition - with hundreds of roles to be created from head office to retail and logistics.
Matalan said it hopes the scheme will inspire the next generation of talent to make a career in retail their preferred choice.
Together
A Greater Manchester-based specialist lender has said it will hire 100 new staff in a major recruitment drive.
The group, which provides mortgages and loans for firms and individuals, said it is offering job opportunities for employees within its commercial and personal finance, IT, marketing and group finance operations.
Visual Architects
A company which creates immersive decor for nightclubs, festivals and brand launches, has created three new jobs and increased productivity significantly following Made Smarter support.
Visual Architects, based in Hyde, Greater Manchester, has manufactured creative interiors and eye-catching designs for Parklife and Creamfields festivals, Adidas and The Hut Group brand launches, as well as bars, restaurants and hotels events.
It has been supported by the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West, which helps businesses drive growth and productivity through digital tools and skills.
With the support of Made Smarter, the industry-led government-funded programme, Visual Architects has invested in a 7-axis Kuka CNC machining robot which has transformed its design and manufacturing capability and brought 70% of previously outsourced production in-house.
Visual Architects has also created three new jobs as a result of Made Smarter’s Digital Technology internship programme, which matches students and graduates to businesses deploying technology projects.
Alcedo Care
An expanding Merseyside-based home care company has secured a £2m funding facility to support its "mega growth" for the rest of the year.
Alcedo Care Group, which has its head office in Southport and other offices spread out across the North West, secured the money from merchant banking group Close Brothers, and said the invoice discounting facility will help release additional working capital.
That will mean it has the necessary finance to take the business "to the next level" - and achieve its objective of doubling in size before the end of the year.
The firm said the additional funding will support the business further as it continues to recruit, invest in the development and training and open an additional five offices in the next six months. That's as well as creating hundreds of new jobs.
Careerpass Network
Manchester-based technology business Careerpass Network has set out plans to increase its number of staff by 50% after it secured a £3m investment.
The funding round was led by NPIF – Maven Equity Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
The £3m funding round includes £1m investment split evenly between NPIF – Maven Equity Finance, the Maven VCTs and the Government’s Future Fund, well as a £2m CBILS acquisition facility via Boost & Co.