800 new jobs at South Bank hotel

Opening in early 2010 the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge it is the largest London new build hotel in generations.

The company is recruiting staff for a range of departments including concierge, food and beverage, front of house, housekeeping, kitchen, maintenance, meetings & events, security and stewarding.

The hotel features more than 1,000 guest rooms, six restaurants, cafes and bars, extensive events and meeting spaces, a grand ballroom and a luxury spa.

The road junction at the southern end of Westminster Bridge has been a building site for more than three years. The hotel replaces the old County Hall annexe which had been vacant since the abolition of the Greater London Council.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson performed the topping out ceremony in July.

“We are committed to providing a wide range of good jobs for people right here in our own community," says general manager Andrew Swindells.

"The Waterloo Job Shop Open Day will be a great opportunity for us to meet with local residents and provide them with details about our friendly work environment, our on-the-job training and the support we offer our team.”

The open day is being held on Thursday at the old Lilian Baylis School in Kennington. Details are available from Waterloo Job Shop on 020 7926 8760.

Anita Konczak, head of employment and skills for South Bank Employers' Group, says: “This is a huge opportunity for local residents. There is a wide range of jobs of offer, from coffee shop assistant and commis chef through to security officer and painter.

"At the Waterloo Job Shop we strongly encourage people to consider the hotel industry as it is unique in the potential it offers for career progression. We have seen people grow and flourish in the hotel environment as they take on more responsibility and work their way up through the ranks.

"We encourage anyone who is on a job hunt to come along to the Open Day and find out for themselves how Park Plaza could be the future they are looking for.”

• In July a BBC Newsnight investigation alleged that cleaners at Park Plaza Riverbank on Albert Embankment were being paid less than the minimum wage.