Sainsbury’s is to launch a human resources shared services (HRSS) function to improve its service to 147,000 colleagues in 780 stores across the country.
The supermarket chain has invested £12m into providing a centralised HR administration support system, which will be based in Manchester’s Arndale Tower, creating 250 new jobs over the next two years.
Sainsbury’s aims to provide more time for managers to focus more on customer service, leadership and training. The service will start this autumn and will be fully operational by the spring of 2009.
Imelda Walsh, HR director at Sainsbury’s, said: “HRSS will increase efficiency, simplify processes and eliminate duplication. Most importantly, it will provide first-class service for our colleagues and allow store and personnel managers to dedicate more of their time to train and develop colleagues.”
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The supermarket chain has recently received takeover interest from equity firm Delta Two, which already owns a 24% stake in the firm.