A new shop offering up to 5,000 jobs opens for business this week in the heart of Liverpool's new shopping area.

Local people looking for work in the retail, leisure and tourism sectors can now find work in a dedicated outlet serving Liverpool's booming city centre.

Grosvenor's Liverpool ONE development and the Echo Arena and Convention Centre, as well as other key developments, are set to create thousands of jobs during the next 12 months.

The new service, based in the developer's offices on Lord Street, will ensure as many local people as possible have the chance of applying for and gaining these jobs and brings together the employment and training services of the city council, Jobcentre Plus and Connexions.

And people, from this Tuesday (February 19th), will be able to register with the service to be contacted each time a job is created over the next few months.

Councillor Warren Bradley, Lib Dem Council leader and Liverpool's business champion, who is helping to launch the initiative said: "Literally thousands of jobs are being created in the city centre and it is our duty to ensure that local people are in the best position to take advantage of them. 

"The real regeneration of Liverpool will be seen in the opportunities it offers to the people who live and work here."

And he added: "This partnership of public and private sectors is key to Liverpool's increased prosperity and will reap rewards for both local people and businesses that are investing in our city - either by setting up new ventures, or continuing to employ staff here."

Shop for Jobs was launched to businesses last May, but thanks to Grosvenor and Liverpool ONE there are now city centre offices from which to offer a range of guidance and job services.

Rod Holmes, Grosvenor's Liverpool One project director, said: "Liverpool ONE is at the forefront of physical regeneration in the city centre and we are keen to see local people benefit from the investment that Grosvenor and our partners are making in the city, not least in terms of job opportunities.

"We are delighted to be supporting Shop for Jobs at Liverpool ONE for this fantastic service." 

Shop for Jobs has worked with a variety of employers and training providers to develop and deliver relevant training programmes and short courses, with nearly 300 people to date receiving job specific training.

The team has supported the likes of Primark, Debenhams, the Liverpool One management company, the Liverpool Echo Arena, and Hard Days Night Hotel to fill more than 2000 vacancies. 

Targeting Liverpool residents, the Shop for Jobs team have more than a thousand people registered on their database, with direct access to more than 30,000 other applicants via the city council's JET service, Connexions and Jobcentre Plus. 

These individuals are then matched to training or employment opportunities, and many receive one-to-one guidance interviews. 

The launch of Shop for Jobs will also be attended by employers that have received support through the initiative, as well as local people who have been helped into training and work. 

Senzillo Martins, one of the successful job seekers who will be working in the food services department at the new Debenhams store, endorsed the Shop for Jobs team's work:  "The Shop for Jobs team was very helpful and the information which I received during my training was very useful, especially for our interview preparation.