Exeter John Lewis gets 3,000 job applicants

John Lewis said it had been "overwhelmed" by people wanting to work at its new Exeter store

Retailer John Lewis has received almost 3,000 applications for 300 jobs at its new store in Devon.

The company is due to take over 11 floors of a building in Sidwell Street in Exeter this autumn.

John Lewis said the deadline for applications had passed and short-listed candidates would take part in online tests and assessment days soon.

The company said the 300 jobs available included managers, sales assistants and catering professionals.

Unemployment fall

Laura Berry, John Lewis recruitment manager, said: "We have been overwhelmed with applicants for the new Exeter shop and have been extremely impressed with the standard of candidates."

Meanwhile, figures from the Office for National Statistics show that unemployment in Devon has fallen.

May's figures show 2.1% of the population was out of work and claiming Job Seekers' Allowance compared with 2.2% in April.

Torbay still has the highest proportion of people unemployed in the South West at 4.5 % of the population, with 3.8% unemployed in Plymouth.

A total 19,958 people in the county are unemployed and collecting benefits.