Royal Mail leads new jobs boost as economy grows

Chamber chief executive Louise Bennett has given a cautious welcome to news the economy has grown.

SCORES of new jobs have been announced just days after figures green shoots emerged in the faltering economy.

The country officially came out of recession last Thursday when it was revealed the economy grew by one per cent in the third quarter of the year.

And on Tuesday Royal Mail announced it was expending its Parcelforce depot at Coventry Airport where 50 new jobs will be created.

A total of 1,000 jobs will be created across the country after a rise in the number of parcels it handles.

Hermes, the UK's largest home delivery courier network, has also announced the creation of 61 full time and 10 per time jobs at its depot in Progress Way in Binley.

It said extended opening hours would also lead to more jobs at peak times of the year.

The company which runs the 99p Stores chain wants to move into the old Peacocks unit at Central Six retail park. It already has a store on Hertford Street in the city centre which will remain open.

And with many big name retailers closing stores Halfords has confirmed it has signed a new 10 year lease to keep its store on Foleshill Road open, securing the future of its employees.

The bike and car accessories retailer has been trading at the site for over ten years with its current lease due to expire in 2016.

The economic figures covered the period between July and September when the Olympics and Paralympics were in full swing.

It was not all good news though with some sectors taking a hit, including construction, which was down 2.5 per cent in the quarter.

Louise Bennett, chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said more needed to be done to increase exports, to get people starting their own businesses and to help firms grow and take on new staff.

"It is positive news and will certainly bring added confidence to the economy, which is welcome," she said.

"But we recognise it doesn’t mean the necessary rebalancing of the economy to provide the foundation for sustained growth is complete."

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