Starbucks to create 5,000 UK jobs over next five years
Thursday, 01 December 2011 10:00
In what has been hailed as a boost for youth employment, Starbucks has announced that it will be creating 5,000 jobs over the next five years.
The coffee chain wants to develop its drive-through business in the UK, increasing its current total from nine to 200 to maximise convenience for commuting customers.
It also intends to add a further 100 coffee shops to Britain's high streets, with around 5,000 jobs being made available as a result of these two factors.
Since half of Starbucks' baristas are under the age of 24, it is hoped the franchise could help to cut the number of young people currently out of employment, which hit record levels of one million recently.
Prime minister David Cameron called the move a "great boost for the British economy and the local communities that will directly benefit from these openings".
"I welcome Starbucks' announcement and I am glad to see continued investment and job creation in the private sector," he added.
Last month, it was revealed that customers at the coffee chain will be able to pay for their drinks using an app on their smartphones from January 5th 2012 onwards.
Vice-president of marketing in the UK Brian Waring said this should reduce queues and boost customer service at busy outlets during peak times.
Starbucks began in Seattle in 1982 and there are now 9,000 company-owned stores and some 8,000 licensed outlets worldwide.
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