Long-term unemployed people make the grade at John Lewis

John Lewis is expanding plans to take on long-term unemployed people for its new stores despite being inundated with job applications, PM has learnt.Suzy Welby, manager of government initiatives at the retailer, told the Skillsmart Retail conference yesterday that John Lewis was now working with Jobcentre Plus on local employment partnerships (LEPs), for its new store openings. At its latest new store in Cardiff, which opens on 24 September, 112 of the 700 jobs went to applicants through the LEP, despite the fact that competition was stiff with the company receiving around 10,000 applications overall.
 

Language does not simply reflect what is going on in organisational life: it also influences what people think and what they do

Linda Holbeche, director of the Holbeche Partnership and visiting professor of HRM/OD at Cass Business School