Despite the recession, opportunities for retail, HR, executive, commercial and logistics recruiters abound.

Since the start of 2009, supermarket chains have promised 20,000 new jobs.

An Iceland spokesperson told Recruiter that agencies had been identified and selected from its current PSL. The chain would work with firms that have a good track record to staff between 50 and 60 new stores, including some of Woolworth’s former stores it acquired. Iceland plans to create between 2,500 and 3,000 jobs.

The Iceland spokesperson added that the frozen foods supermarket would be recruiting for all levels of store staff; area managers, store managers, trainee managers, supervisors, retail assistants, home delivery drivers and cleaners. It would also be looking for a number of generalist HR managers and temporary recruitment support jobs.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s has announced 5,000 new jobs and has already taken on 2,000 temporary employees from the 20,000 workers it recruited at Christmas. It will open 50 convenience stores in the coming financial year, a spokesperson told Recruiter.

Graduate and summer placements will double this year, the spokesperson said, with the chain supporting the government’s strategy to make vocational training more widely available.

Opportunities could be limited for recruiters, as Sainsbury’s says it is very pleased with the number and calibre of candidates who had applied for roles through its new online recruitment process.

Stephen Robertson, director- general at the British Retail Consortium, said that food retail is proving more resilient than other sectors: “British supermarkets operate on thin margins. They’re competitive and the recession has made them more so.”