There's more in store at Chatham's Dockside Outlet Centre.

Apart from shops and cafes, shoppers can now get more than they bargained for at the retail complex – a job.

Employment agency Reed in Partnership has opened at the former Sports Direct unit inside the centre.

And the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is due to take over a large unit and in used to be Poundstretcher in the next few weeks.

The government office and jobs centre will be working together in support of the Restart scheme.

This is an employment programme commissioned by the DWP to support unemployed people back into work.

It will offer advice and guidance, skills training and recruitment support.

It's anticipated at least 30 jobs will be available in that office alone – both new hubs are on the top floor of the centre.

These latest tenants are a further boost to the centre which now has a 97% occupancy rate after several stores quit in the pandemic.

At the end of last year, dental surgery Smil opened upstairs next to The Range, offering family and cosmetic dentistry, implants and facial aesthetics.

Pad Thai Live, which sells authentic Thai street food, has moved from a stall into a bigger outlet upstairs.

And the Fragrance Shop, which offers top brand women's perfumes and men's aftershaves, has opened a store downstairs.

Peter Everest, of Dockside Outlet owners WD Ltd, said: "The lettings are in line with our strategy to remain community-focused and connected and also to ensure that the centre includes service providers.

"These innovative and community supportive focused lettings first started a few years ago when we let space to a critical service provider in the form of Dockside Nursery and Pre-School and, more recently, the Smil dental clinic.

"It’s an incredibly exciting time for Dockside.

"The centre has continued to see footfall and sales growth and will continuing to innovate in terms of new and interesting tenants."

Centre manager Anthony Sutton said: "We are nearly fully let and we are continuing to look at innovative additions.

"The attraction to the centre is also having a positive effect around us as evidenced by the news this week of KFC opening opposite the centre."