Furniture giant to create 600 jobs

There are 11 Ikea stores in the UK

Swedish furniture company Ikea has announced plans to open a new store near Northampton which would employ 600.

Ikea has asked South Northamptonshire Council for permission to build a 30,500 square metre outlet at Grange Park, near Northampton.

The furnishings giant earlier released a plan to build 20 new stores in the UK, creating 10,000 jobs by the year 2010.

Ikea is known for its modern flat-packed furniture items which buyers assemble at home.

Market leader

Opportunities at the Northampton outlet would range from positions at cash desks to carpentry, with jobs offered in interior design, personnel and catering.

The first Ikea store in the UK in 1987.

Since then, the company has become a familiar name, not least on the Sunday shopping scene.

Its winning formula has also seen the firm become the biggest furniture retailer in the UK, in front of MFI and DFS.