A major new business has opened in Wolverhampton with 80 per cent of the initial workforce recruited from the city. Wiggle, the UK's biggest online cycle and tri sports retailer, moved its distribution centre to Bilston earlier this year and has been working with Wolverhampton City Council, the City of Wolverhampton College and JobCentre Plus to fill some of the 140 warehouse roles it has created.
Wiggle had a prominent role at Wolverhampton Jobs Fair back in March, offering permanent warehouse operative positions at its Citadel base to local unemployed people.
In a further boost for employment in the area, more than 60 per cent of participants on a special Wiggle pre-recruitment course open to unemployed people have been successful in landing jobs with the company.
Councillor John Reynolds, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Seeing a leading national brand like Wiggle opening its distribution centre doors for business in Wolverhampton is a huge plus for the city.
“We have worked closely with Wiggle throughout its relocation and helped give local people the chance to take up employment opportunities with them, with the end result seeing 80 per cent of its Wolverhampton workforce recruited from the city.
It goes to show how effective the council’s collaborative approach in delivering pre-recruitment courses alongside key partners can be in helping the people of Wolverhampton find jobs.”
Wiggle Human Resources Business Partner, Suki Moore, added: “It is an exciting time for the company to be opening its doors in Wolverhampton.
The council and its partners have been instrumental in helping us recruit our workforce, with the large majority of workers coming from the local area.