The company said it proposes a £20m development on the site of the old BR engineering works in Springburn in the city.

Christine McCormick reports on the latest employment initiatives

It said it would work in partnership with local agencies to recruit the long-term unemployed and those who have never worked before.

While it has planning permission to build a store employing 350 people, the company said it would seek further approval for a larger store, employing 600.

A larger store could be built

Tesco recently announced its intention to invest in the UK's run-down inner cities and industrial towns and to help the long-term unemployed to gain work as part of its "charter for regeneration".

It said it wants to hear from local unemployed people and has promised to train them in basic and retail skills with the promise of a job at the end of their training.

Springburn is considered an area of high unemployment and Tesco said it has enlisted the help of agencies including the chamber of commerce, a local training college, unions and regeneration companies.

The company said it hopes to open the store next year.

The announcement was welcomed by the Labour MSP for Glasgow Springburn, Paul Martin.

He said: "These are quality jobs and we've ensured to maximise the number of full time posts because we have to be clear that we are bringing quality jobs and full time jobs at the same time."

Self employment

The announcement came as a scheme aimed at assisting job prospects and promoting self-employment was launched in the Castlemilk area of the city.

The Get into Enterprise scheme has been hailed as one of the first projects under the government's social inclusion programme and has targeted the long-term unemployed, young people, women and ethnic minorities in particular.