Just Eat to create over 1,500 North East jobs with £100m investment

Food delivery specialist Just Eat has announced plans to create 1,500 jobs in the North East through a new multi-million pound investment.

The firm is set to create the roles in Houghton le Spring in Sunderland within the next 12 months, as part of a £100m investment into the region over the next five years.

A range of positions from customer service advisors to team leadership, specialist support roles and management are being recruited for, with 300 new jobs already created as part of the recruitment drive.

As part of the investment, the company will create a new Sunderland office for its North East employees. Equipped with a gym, catering area and a lounge, the space will cover 20,000 sq m across four floors.

Andrew Kenny, UK managing director at Just Eat, explained: “As part of our ongoing investment in our UK business, we’re delighted to be creating upwards of a thousand new employment opportunities in our customer care department over the next 12 months.

“Alongside the launch of our worker model for couriers, this move will help us to bring the very best service to our customers and restaurant partners as demand for food delivery goes from strength to strength in the UK.

“As a platform that covers 95 per cent of UK postcodes, we also know the importance of increasing career opportunities outside of London and the South East. We’re pleased to be announcing our commitment to the North East, to help boost the region’s economy.”

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We’re thrilled to have supported Just Eat to make its move to Sunderland, joining a dynamic business community and creating jobs and opportunities for people across the city.

“We’re very proud of what Sunderland offers as a place to do business, and it is vindication of that offer when brands like Just Eat are drawn to the city thanks to the work of our team and colleagues from Invest North East England and the North East LEP in attracting them.

“We’re immensely proud of our skilled people and look forward to seeing how they drive the onward success of the Just Eat business.”

Andrew Moffat CBE, chair of the North East LEP investment board, added: “Just Eat’s commitment to create more than 1,000 jobs in the North East and continue its investment in apprenticeships and long-term career development is great news for Sunderland, and our region.

“Just Eat is a hugely successful, multinational business, and we’re delighted to have been able to work with them alongside Invest North East England to support them to help secure the North East as the location to continue their growth journey.”