Seven hundred new jobs are to be created across the UK early next year by Scottish-based car retailer Arnold Clark.
The company said it would create 500 new sales jobs, as well as recruiting 120 modern apprentice places and 80 people for supporting roles, according to the BBC.
The government’s scrappage scheme – which has helped stabilise the car market – was cited by the firm as one of the reasons why it is creating the new posts.
Arnold Clark said there would be 155 new jobs in the Glasgow area, 25 in the Dundee area, 50 in the Aberdeen region, and 130 in and around Edinburgh.
South of the border, 150 new posts will be created in the Manchester region, 20 in the Warrington area, 20 in and around Stafford, 80 in the Huddersfield area, and 70 at an as-yet-unnamed new site in the north of England.
Arnold Clark, chairman and chief executive of the company, said: “The extra 700 jobs can partly be attributed to the stabilising of the car industry since the introduction of the government’s scrappage scheme in May.”
Chancellor Alistair Darling said: “The UK car market is a vital part of our economy and that is why we introduced the car scrappage scheme in the Budget. The scheme is providing a vital boost to the UK car industry at a time when it needs it most.”
