More than 1,200 people are set to miss out on jobs at Helensburgh's new Waitrose store after the firm received almost seven applications for each job on offer. The supermarket giant has been amazed at the response to its well-publicised recruitment drive, which attracted around 1,400 applications for the 200 positions available from food service assistants to management and customer service jobs. Of them, 470 have been shortlisted.

Store bosses have equated the response to that expected for large city openings, such as in London, with the weight of applications eclipsed in Scotland only by the Newton Mearns store, which received 1,900 applications for 200 jobs in 2011.

In Stirling, which has a population of around 41,000 compared to to Helensburgh's 14,500, less than 1,000 people applied for jobs at the city's Waitrose store when it opened earlier this year.

A spokeswoman for Waitrose said: "We've been overwhelmed by the response to our recruitment drive for the Helensburgh store and the calibre of applicants is very high.

"Almost seven people applied for each job available, which is similar to the level of demand for jobs we experience for new branches in the UK's largest cities."

As revealed by the Advertiser, the new 36,000 sq ft supermarket is set to open in November, and will house the first purpose-built petrol station the company has ever built in Scotland.

With an estimated 30 people chasing every job in Helensburgh and the surrounding area, competition for the jobs was expected to be fierce, and the Advertiser understands several applicants - including those with extensive experience - have complained to the company after receiving rejection notices within days of applying.

Amongst them was Mark Heenan, who has years of customer service experience and currently works as a sales agent in Glasgow.

His wife Tammie, 23, said: "We thought he was suitable for the job because of his experience - he has worked as a sales agent for four years now and is in the cancellations department so has to deal with tricky customers daily.

"He is gutted to not be given the opportunity and we just wonder what Waitrose are looking for. The rejection came straight away and we feel that Waitrose started on such a high with positive support for the store and the 200 jobs and now after so many people have been rejected the support has dropped. It is not the welcome to the town Waitrose would want."

However, community representatives say the sheer volume of applications means widespread disappointment was an inevitable symptom of the selection process, and shouldn't overshadow the benefit of 200 new jobs to the town.

Councillor Vivien Dance said: "This is a great news story, nothing negative about 200 new jobs on our patch with a company the calibre of Waitrose, of course 1,200 will be disappointed, it is not called a selection process for nothing. "The competition is fierce for employment everywhere and the exceptional response to the 200 jobs at the new store is no surprise to anyone who knows this town well.

"This response confirms what we argued for weeks in the debate about the new store, these jobs are desperately needed in this area and reflect the lack of economic development and investment that has blighted the area for years."

"The volume of applications received highlights just how many people are searching for work, and Waitrose have had to be selective in who they ask for interviews."

Jackie Baillie, Helensburgh and Lomond's MSP, believes that although it is positive to see a huge number of people applying, it is 'only natural that there would be disappointment from those who were not selected from the candidate process', and called on the firm to be more open about its selection process in future.

She added: "Times are still hard for many families, it is clear that competition for employment has been tough during the Waitrose vacancy period and I would like to congratulate all those who have been successful in securing full-time or part-time work.

"The recruitment process for any firm is never easy and the managers at Waitrose have obviously had a tough decision to make, given the large volume of applications that were received. I would encourage all those who were unsuccessful not to be disheartened and to keep applying for jobs.

"I hope lessons can be learned from this recruitment process and that Waitrose will take on board the comments that have been made by constituents who applied for jobs."

Now, the 470 shortlisted applicants will be invited to group interviews at the Victoria Halls in Helensburgh to be held on various dates between Thursday August 8 and Friday August 23.

Each successful applicant will become a partner in the John Lewis Partnership, entitling them to a say in how the business is run and an annual share in its profits.

Earlier this year, partners received a bonus of 17 per cent or the equivalent to around nine weeks' pay. The new partners will enjoy a big welcome to the partnership and will take part in an intensive, 17-day training programme before the official opening. Some may go on to become specialists in wine, fish and meat, cheese and deli while others may progress to become section managers.

Did you apply for a Waitrose job? How did you find the selection process? Let us know at editorial@helensburghadvertiser.co.uk