Andrea was joined by Leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling on Friday for a tour around the White Rose Shopping Centre.
The shopping centre will expand over the coming years creating an estimated 1000 jobs considerably boosting the local economy and facilities.
The White Rose attended Andrea’s Jobs Fair in February and are in the process of interviewing people they met on the day. It also hosts The Point, an employment hub within the centre for everything relating to a career in retail from skills and training to vacancies, providing a comprehensive solution to recruitment under one roof.
During the meeting Andrea and Chris met with the new General Manager Steve Foster and Centre Manager Dean Stratton. They were both pleased to learn that the centre had their best ever December for footfall and sales last year. They also discussed the Government’s planned changes to Sunday trading regulations and the changing retail environment.
Andrea said:
“I have always had a soft spot for the White Rose having originally worked there as a store manager. It has come a long way, from what was originally a brownfield sewage site, to sitting comfortably as one of the top 10 most profitable shopping centres in the UK.
“The contribution to the local economy is undeniable, as is their contribution to the wider community from mentoring local businesses in the town to being a location for the elderly to enjoy mall walking.”