AM Retailer of the Year 2009 Arnold Clark is launching a massive recruitment drive to swell its ranks by 700 jobs by February 2010.

The dealer group said it would be taking on 500 new sales jobs, 120 apprentices and 80 support roles to help with "new sales developments and newly acquired sites in the north of England".

Sir Arnold Clark, chairman and chief executive, said: “With car sales being a more involved job, our sales teams need to spend more time with customers to further reinforce the group’s ethos to create high levels of customer satisfaction.

“We not only wish to employ 700 new members of staff but we are committed to investing heavily in training them, whether it is at our Arnold Clark Sales Academy or as a modern apprentice in motor mechanics.”

Positions are being created within the Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester, Warrington, Stafford and Huddersfield areas with posts being recruited for immediately.

Arnold Clark's ongoing expansion and future development plans include a new site in Huddersfield set to open its doors in October and a fully redeveloped Preston showroom, both of which will require more staff.

Clark said: “With the global economy going through such a difficult period, our announcement today can only be seen as a positive step in helping to combat unemployment.

“The extra 700 jobs can partly be attributed to the stabilising of the car industry since the introduction of the Government’s Scrappage Scheme in May.”

The announcement coincides with a visit from Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, who put the creation of the 700 jobs down to the scrappage scheme.

Darling said: “The UK car market is a vital part of our economy and that is why we introduced the car scrappage scheme at the Budget.

“The scheme is providing a vital boost to the UK car industry at a time when it needs it most.”