US consumer electronics giant Best Buy has begun a major recruitment drive for the first of 8,000 UK jobs needed over the next five years for new retail outlets.
The company, in partnership with Carphone Warehouse, has begun searching for new recruits to take part in a nine-week training programme. Stores in Thurrock and Southampton are expected to open in the spring, each employing about 100 people.
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Best Buy employs 150,000 people worldwide. Up to 70 megastores could be opened in the UK by 2014.
Carphone Warehouse sold half of its high-street mobile phone chain to Best Buy for £1.1bn last year.