Development to offer thousands of jobs for those out of work

A new mall being developed in Edinburgh is running a training academy to prepare applicants for the 3000 jobs it said will be created when it opens this summer.

The St James Quarter, a £1bn development, will comprise of 850,000 square feet of retail space. It will host 85 shops, 30 restaurants, two hotels and the city’s first Everyman cinema.

FUSE, a retail and hospitality academy set up by St James Quarter, will host a virtual training school open to anyone currently out of work or looking for a job in the industries.

The shopping centre’s managing director Nick Peel and retail director Gill Moore will kick off the FUSE Academy with presentations on their careers and previous roles, which include senior positions at Arsenal Football Club, Rangers Football Club and Harvey Nichols Middle East.

The sessions will run throughout May with the aim of finding candidates for the 3000 jobs the Quarter said will be brought to Scotland when it opens its doors in June.

FUSE manager Calum Nicol, who will co-host a CV workshop, said: “FUSE is about more than filling roles, it’s about finding the right job for the right person and allowing people to carve out successful careers.

“At FUSE we pride ourselves on helping job seekers not only find work but expand their career prospects by connecting them to courses and accredited qualifications.”

The academy will feature industry experts from some of the brands opening at St James Quarter, including Bross Bagels, Bonnie and Wild and the PVH Group, who represent Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.

Rochelle Burgess, the Quarter’s marketing and brand director, said: “As someone who started out working on the shopfloor, I am so pleased to be able to share my experiences from my career so far.

“There is a common misconception that there are limited career opportunities within retail and hospitality, but the FUSE Academy will dispel those myths, while allowing those who attend to gain valuable CV and interview skills.

“The jobs that St James Quarter brings will have a positive impact on Edinburgh and could also be the first step in a new career for someone, that legacy is something that really excites me.”