Tenants of the new £53 million St James’ development will begin a recruitment drive next week.

They will seek potential staff at the Dover Jobs Fair from 10am to 3pm next Thursday at Dover Town Hall.

Among those hiring will be Cineworld, M&S, Next, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Shoezone and Trespass.

In total, the retail and leisure development, off Townwall Street, is expected to create 500 new jobs.

The Dover Jobs Fair is being organised by Dover District Council and its partners, East Kent College, and Kent Choices which offers advice and information for school leavers.

A wide range of local companies will also be recruiting, from science and engineering, to food production and maritime.

There will be advice and information on further and higher education, apprenticeships, and volunteering.

Staff from Dover Jobcentre will also be there.

Cllr Keith Morris, leader of Dover District Council, said: “We’re delighted to welcome many of the tenants at the St James’ development.

“It will be a great opportunity for people to come and see the job opportunities on offer when St James, opens early in 2018.

“I am also delighted that many of the district’s largest employers are also supporting the event, and demonstrating the depth of career, apprenticeship and training opportunities available in the Dover district.”

Exhibitors at the Dover Jobs Fair will include BAM Construction which is involved in the building of the new Dover District Leisure Centre in Whitfield.

Also there will be the consortium Volker Stevin Boskalis Westminster, which is working on the Dover Western Docks Revival development.

Among the others are Bakkavor - Tilmanstone Salads, the Bay Trust, Border Force, Canterbury Christ Church University,

Canterbury College, Discovery Park in Sandwich, Dover Maritime Skills Academy and East Kent College.

Additional ones include Megger, Morrisons, Pfizer, the Port of Dover, Premier Foods, Red Eagle Recruitment, the Royal Air Force and Viking Recruitment.