Fashion e-tailer Asos is expanding outside the South East for the first time and is recruiting for 20 senior positions at its new Birmingham office, it has been announced today.
As the e-tailer‘s global expansion plans continue, it is to open an office at The Custard Factory in Digbeth by the end of April and the number of roles available could increase to around 50 over the next 12 months.
Offering roles focusing on creating new websites aimed at growth markets such as France and Germany, Asos is keen to capitalise on the “growing specialism in e-commerce across the city”, it said in a statement.
Marek Dobrowolski, Investment Manager at the city‘s inward investment programme Business Birmingham, explained that the city has some 40,000 computer science or business students, adding: “Birmingham is making a real name for itself as a home for digital businesses.
“We have been keen to support the company‘s move to Birmingham – not only is it a highly successful retailer, but it is also an attractor brand – so people want to work with and for Asos.
“Its decision to open in the city will help us put Birmingham‘s offer for the creative and digital sectors in the spotlight.”
Last week, the pure-play e-tailer announced that total sales rose 37 per cent in its second quarter while UK retail sales jumped 28 per cent year-on-year to £75.5 million.
As such, Asos‘ Chief Information Officer Pete Marsden said that supporting expansion is crucial to the e-tailer‘s long-term strategy.
“As a company Asos has grown, despite challenging economic times, because of the innovative approaches we take to meeting our customers‘ demands,” Marsden commented.
“Our innovation comes from our people; we seek out and recruit the very best talent because we know that they are the key to our success.
“That is exactly what we are doing by creating a presence for the company in Birmingham.
“Our new Birmingham team will work alongside our London Technology Centre to develop and tailor these sites to each market, putting it at the forefront of our future growth.
“Birmingham feels like a city that has some big plans and is on the cusp of big things. We wanted to get in there first.”
