Tesco in partnership deal to create 2,000 jobs in most deprived areas

Tesco, the UK supermarket chain, yesterday announced details of a "regeneration charter" that will create 2,000 jobs in some of Britain's most deprived areas.

Tesco, the UK supermarket chain, yesterday announced details of a "regeneration charter" that will create 2,000 jobs in some of Britain's most deprived areas.

The initiative, which Tesco will develop in partnership with the Government's New Deal scheme for job seekers, will centre on six new food stores in inner cities and industrial towns that were previously labelled "food deserts".

Tesco, which piloted the programme last July in Seacroft, Leeds, has earmarked Leyland, Lancashire, as the second area to benefit from the initiative.

The new project will be formally launched tomorrow by Hilary Armstrong, the Minister for Local Government and the Regions.

Ms Armstrong will also unveil plans for a further four partnerships in England and Scotland, scheduled to be set up in the current financial year.

Separately yesterday, John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, announced a new public and private sector joint venture to redevelop former coalfield areas as work premises for small and medium-sized businesses.

The scheme, to be called Network Space, will create more than 1,000 jobs. It will be run by English Partnerships, a Government quango that aims to create new jobs and investment through sustainable economic development, and Langtree Group, a property investment and development company based in St Helens, Merseyside.

The organisers aim to build and manage work spaces in up to 20 coalfield locations. The sites for the first five Network Centres have been named as Agecroft Commerce Park in Salford, High Carr Business Park in Newcastle Under Lyme, Viking Industrial Park in Jarrow, Claycliffe Business Park in Barnsley and Green Lane in Featherstone.