David Cameron welcomes Asda's creation of 12,000 jobs
The Prime Minister visited Asda's Clapham Junction branch to welcome the creation of 12,000 jobs over the next 5 years.
This announcement follows the Prime Minister’s 4-day economy-focused tour last week, where he welcomed the creation of 10,000 jobs from Vodafone, Accenture and Birmingham Airport.
The Prime Minister said:
Supporting business, creating jobs and cutting taxes are all part of our long-term economic plan. Yesterday, our tax reforms cut income tax for 26 million people and will help businesses to create jobs. I am delighted that Asda is continuing to invest heavily in the UK, creating another 12,000 jobs that will give people financial security for the future.
He also met some of the 26 million hard-working people who had their taxes cut overnight on Sunday, as well as small business owners who will now benefit from up to £2,000 cash back on their National Insurance Contributions.
Before the store visit, the Prime Minister hosted Doug McMillon, President and CEO of Walmart, and Andy Clarke, CEO of Asda, in Downing Street to discuss Asda’s wider investment in the UK. The Prime Minister emphatically welcomed the fact that Asda had already created 100,000 jobs and said it was an encouraging sign of the recovering economy that they were able to create 12,000 more.
Mr McMillon said:
It has been a pleasure to meet with the Prime Minister today and reaffirm Walmart’s commitment to investing in the UK. We know that the UK is a great place to do business and since Walmart acquired Asda 15 years ago we have been able to invest £8 billion in the UK economy – creating over 100,000 jobs, opening 342 new Asda stores and bringing lower prices to millions of customers.
A seismic shift in the structure of the retail market is underway – not just in the UK – but right across the world. Asda recognised the change in its market and took early action to develop and implement a strategy that will see it grow – creating more new jobs and bringing real value to more customers in the UK.