Raft of firms help PM to unveil 10,000 new jobs

Global management consultant Accenture yesterday unveiled plans to hire 2,000 people in the UK this year, with the expansion expected to include it bases in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Prime Minister David Cameorn. Picture: Neil Hanna

The news came as communications giant Vodafone confirmed its own plans to take on 1,400 staff as it opens 150 shops across the UK this year.

Alongside money spent on boosting its coverage, Vodafone said its investment in Britain would hit a record £1 billion this year.

Accenture said it was recruiting across a range of experience levels, particularly in areas such as IT, retail and banking.

The new jobs were unveiled by Prime Minister David Cameron, who is on a four-day tour of businesses across the UK.

He said: “The creation of these jobs at Accenture is even more good news for the British economy in a week where we are cutting tax for 26 million hard-working people and taking over three million out of income tax altogether.

“These jobs are among 10,000 announced [yesterday] – jobs that will give people financial security for the future.”

Birmingham airport accounts for the bulk of the posts, with 4,000 jobs on site and the same number again in the supply chain, as a result of a revamp that includes a £40 million extended runway due to be operational next month.

However, household goods maker McBride sparked fears of job cuts among its 2,000 UK staff as it unveiled a major overhaul after warning over profits for the second time in three months.

The group said it was leading a review of its UK operations that was likely to lead to a “significant restructuring of our activities, including capacity reduction”.