Twenty new Cannock jobs in Newlife expansion

Twenty jobs are being created by Cannock-based shopping giant Newlife, it was announced today.

More staff are needed by the business arm of the charity, which sells designer goods at bargain prices and returned a £2 million profit last year.

Founder and chief executive Sheila Brown today hailed the success of its homeware enterprise and said she was negotiating a five-year lease on a 25,000sq ft warehouse in Bridgtown.

Recruitment for the new posts will start early next month.

Moving furniture and beds to the Bridgtown warehouse will free up trading space in the Newlife at Home store in Hemlock Way, while the company is also planning to offer more volunteering opportunities.

Mrs Brown said expansion was the only option to meet a surge in requests for help from the charity, which provides specialist equipment for sick and disabled children.

Calls are up 104 per cent on this time last year, with staff handling more than 300 appeals for aid a week.

"As demand goes up we have to step up our income generation," Mrs Brown said.

"Fundraising is very hard these days so investment in our trading operation is the safest way to ensure we can generate that income."

Newlife sells clothes and home furnishings from 400 retailers across the country including Monsoon and Primark.

The expansion will boost the number of staff on the Newlife payroll to 248 while 200 volunteers are involved each week.

Launched in 1991 with just 2,600 sq ft of space, Newlife will be spread across 145,000 sq ft when the new warehouse lease is acquired.

By Mark Mudie