A RETAIL recruitment specialist from Bolton has launched Britain's first open-all-hours recruitment operation.

Discover Retail Limited, based at Endeavour House in Water's Meeting Road, invested thousands of pounds to adopt state of the art web-based technology for the venture.

To do this, the firm worked closely with Bolton Council's Business Support Unit and Bolton software firm Virtual Business Developments.

Charlotte Ayrton, director of Discover Retail said: "We already handle vacancies for a large number of UK-wide retail operations and this new system will enable our team to match client jobs to our growing database of job seekers anytime and from any location 24 hours, seven days a week."

Co-director Matthew Evans said: "The system being securely accessed via the web allows our team of nine head-hunters and recruitment executives to work remotely and flexibly throughout the country.

"It means that client job requirements are posted instantly to our website job board.

"Gone are the days when candidates have to apply for job details, send off their CVs and then perhaps wait weeks for possible interviews."

Shaun Kirk, Virtual Business Development's chief solutions architect, said: "We took time to the study the habits of people looking for jobs within the retail sectors.

"The results of the survey highlighted Discover Retail's mission to deliver their whole service via the net."

Ross Bullock from BBSU said: "This innovative solution allows Matthew and Charlotte to work flexibly from either their Bolton office, client offices or indeed from home anytime they need to.

"Their successful business has involved them working long hours in the past, normally chained to their office desks, now they'll be able to work from anywhere when needed."