RECRUITMENT has started for Asda’s new £10 million superstore in Clacton.

The supermarket giant has 250 vacancies, which it plans to fill in time for the October opening.

Tendring Council and Jobcentre Plus has been working with Asda to support the redevelopment of the site on Bull Hill Road.

Now, the store has opened a recruitment centre within the Clacton Jobcentre premises on Station Road.

The centre will be used to carry out interviews, group sessions and training in the lead up to the store opening in three months time.

Many different job roles are on offer including section leaders, checkout and service, home shopping drivers and personal shoppers, bakers and fresh food, security and day and twilight replenishment teams.

There is even one called “Chilled Colleague”-a part-time role where “you have a great opportunity to welcome customers, talk to them, sell to them and make their shopping trip so memorable.”

Closing dates vary for the mix of full-time, part-time and seasonal roles, but people are encouraged to get applications in early as demand is expected to be high.

Tendring Council cabinet member for planning and regeneration, Giles Watling, said the recruitment centre was set up to help Asda deliver on a Local Recruitment Strategy, which was a condition of its planning permission.

“The site on Bull Hill Road – which was formerly the old East of England Co-op Fiveways store - has been neglected and underused for many years, so I heartily welcome the significant investment that Asda are making in our district.

“This store will provide the largest single recruitment opportunity that Clacton has seen for some time, so I would encourage anyone who is interested in any of these positions to apply early to avoid disappointment,” he added.

North Essex Jobcentres operations manager Lauren Kilbey said she was looking forward to working with Asda to get local people into jobs.

Asda Clacton store general manager Dean Bradbrook also confirmed “fantastic career opportunities” were available with Asda “over the coming months.”

All the new jobs at the Clacton store have gone live on ASDA’s website here.

Applicants are required to complete an online application before being invited for an interview or an “Asda Magic session”, which involves role play activities, at the recruitment centre.

Anyone without access to a home computer can use public computers at the Jobcentre or at libraries across Tendring.