MORRISONS is planning to recruit 100 new members of staff at its Bridgwater distribution centre

The company is increasing its permanent workforce at the Willow Green operation from 750 to 805 over the coming months.

The recruitment drive sees a shirt away from using agency workers to provide employees the security and benefits of being permanent members of staff.

Among the roles on offer are warehousing and logistics jobs across a range of shift patterns.

Morrisons has also taken steps to introduce Level 2 logistics apprenticeships on site, along with degree apprenticeships, graduate schemes and access to the supermarket's pathways schemes.

The business is also running a range of sector-based work academies in partnership with the Job Centre and Weston College.

This will give prospective candidates access to relevant high quality training while retaining their benefits. If they go on to complete the course, Morrisons will also guarantee candidates an interview.

Morrisons has already reached out to those who will be made redundant due to the planned closure of Oscar Mayer in August, having attended a job fair there to raise awareness of the upcoming opportunities at Willow Green.

The senior management team, which was appointed in September, has a vision to transform Willow Green into the best depot in the Morrisons’ network, as well as becoming the primary employer in the area.

Richard Page, Morrisons’ site manager at Willow Green, said: "We are on a journey to change people's perceptions about Willow Green.

"The site has been run a certain way for the last few years and has been heavily reliant on agency labour, something we are currently changing by actively recruiting colleagues on Morrisons’ contracts.

"Being a key part of the community is important to us and we want to be the employer of choice in Bridgwater.

"There is now a huge range of opportunities to learn, grow and develop at Willow Green, and they could all lead to rewarding and exciting careers in logistics, manufacturing and retail.

"We can’t wait to welcome new colleagues on board."

Staff at Willow Green have recently taken part in a depot-to-depot challenge – walking, cycling or running the distance it would take to travel between all of Morrisons’ depots.

They covered more than 2,240km and raised £1,044 for St. Margaret's Hospice.