MORE than 150 people have applied for a handful of new jobs at a new coffee house due to open later this year.
Hartlepool Borough Council offered one full-time and five part-time positions at the Inspirations Coffee House and Garden Centre development on the site of the existing Stranton Garden Nursery in Tanfield Road, which is due to open in the spring.
And officials have overwhelmed by the amount of people keen to work at the coffee house.
The innovative scheme is part of the council’s strategy to generate additional income to help support frontline services and local jobs delivered by the Parks and Countryside section, and those of the Facilities Management teams who deliver many services for schools and children in the town at a time of unprecedented Government budget cuts.
The jobs include the post of supervisor, catering assistant and kitchen assistants.
Karen Oliver, the council’s facilities management manager, said: “We had a great response to the job advertisement and interviews are currently taking place.
“We are seeking a dedicated, talented and enthusiastic team of staff which share our vision and passion for providing a top quality service that is second to none in Hartlepool. Customer satisfaction is paramount to us and excellent customer service lies at the heart of this.”
The new coffee house is described by the local authority as a high-quality venue in a welcoming and relaxed setting.
For customers who like to grind and prepare coffee at home, Inspirations Coffee House will also be selling coffee beans from across the globe.
A range of other products will be on sale too, including teas, iced drinks, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, paninis and seasonal “house specials”.
Following the opening of Inspirations Coffee House, further phases of the redevelopment scheme will include a new Inspirations Garden Centre shop and a series of “inspirational gardens” which will be regularly refreshed and used to showcase the garden centre’s products. A car park is also being created to provide off-street parking.
Ms Oliver added: “The Inspirations Coffee Shop and Garden Centre is a really exciting development for the town which is also bringing an out-dated, empty building back into use.
“Once staff have been appointed, they’ll undergo a comprehensive training programme and everyone is looking forward to the first coffee being served.”