UK hotel chain Premier Inn has announced the creation of 8,000 new jobs over the next five years as the business progresses with rapid expansion plans – which will see a new hotel open every 10 days.

The announcement was made on Monday 24 November as Premier Inn opened its latest offering, London City, located in the capital's Monument area.

The business says that from the 8,000 jobs being created, Premier Inn has targeted 50 per cent of them to go to long-term, unemployed younger people between the ages of 16-24.

The brand has also pledged to contribute an additional 2,000 apprenticeships and 4,500 work placements for young people in the UK by 2018.

As part of its plans, Premier Inn is proposing to have 20,000 rooms available within the M25 belt by 2018.

The announcement was backed by Minister for Employment, Esther McVey, who praised the business for its commitment to promoting job creation.

“I was delighted to hear that Premier Inn will be creating 8,000 new jobs over the next five years,” said McVey.

“This Government has been clear about its commitment to promote private sector job creation and this is a stellar example. Their commitment to offer half of these new jobs to long term unemployed young people is particularly welcome, and is an example that I hope other businesses will follow.”

The British budget hotel chain currently offers over 50,000 rooms for visitors and runs more than 650 hotels across the country.

Premier Inn is a brand of UK hospitality chain Whitbread, which employs over 40,000 people and offers around 2,500 hotels, restaurants and coffee shops.

More information on Whitbread is available here