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

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

Sir Arnold Clark, chairman and chief executive, explained the reason behind the recruitment drive: “Selling cars has become even more of an involved job and our sales teams need to spend more time with customers.”

Clark also said the new jobs were partly created to help deal with the stabilisation that the scrappage scheme had brought to sales in the UK. 

Arnold Clark will be investing in training for the new staff through its Arnold Clark Sales Academy and modern apprenticeships.