Job opportunities hit new high as Shard starts hiring

WANTED: jobseekers with a head for heights who want to see London as it has never been seen before. Vertigo sufferers need not apply.

Preparations have begun to find more than 500 people to work at the Shard of Glass - including attendants for the 72nd floor viewing gallery.

The 1,017ft Shard at London Bridge will be the tallest building in western Europe when it opens next year. More than 100 of the jobs are associated with the viewing gallery, 300 will be in the five-star Shangri-La hotel - the highest in London occupying the 35th to 51st floors - and about 120 general facilities management staff.

Developer Sellar Group has teamed up with Southwark College in a £5 million initiative to help local people prepare for the interviews. Former classrooms and lecture theatres at the college have been turned into pretend shops and salons to give jobseekers the chance to learn new skills in "real work environments".

Irvine Sellar, chairman of Sellar Group, said: "Most people can begin to see the wider benefits of the scheme for the local area, and this facility gives Southwark residents access to gain the direct skills associated with jobs in the development."

In addition, the college is working with businesses along The Cut to find work for students after they qualify.

Ruth Gilbert, principal of Southwark College, said: "This project is a great example of matching private and public investment to deliver creative benefits for local people."

Fiona Colley, Southwark council's cabinet member for regeneration, said: "I would encourage our young people to look at the variety of courses available and sign up."

About 12,500 office workers are expected to move into the Shard or its linked Place development next year.

Members of the public will have to pay to travel to the viewing gallery. Charges have yet to be set.

More information on courses is available at www.southwark.ac.uk/index.php/courses.