Amsterdam-based takeaway delivery giant Just Eat is to create 1,500 jobs in Liverpool this year as part of the rollout of its new agency worker model for couriers. Tony McDonough reports

Food takeaway delivery giant Just Eat is to create another 1,500 jobs in Liverpool by the end of 2021 in an expansion of its new agency worker model for couriers.

Takeaway ouriers have become a familiar sight on the city’s streets. Often food ordered through Just Eat are delivered by people actually employed by the restaurants. However, Liverpool will be the third city in the UK to see the roll-out of a new model.

Already launched in London and Birmingham over the last few months, couriers contracted through the model are entitled to hourly pay, minimum/Living Wage, pension contributions and certain statutory benefits including holiday pay and sick pay.

This tackles one of the main criticisms of the gig economy where workers have minimum benefits or protections. All agency workers will receive bespoke training to deliver the best food delivery experience to both customers and restaurants.

To help protect couriers, they are covered by the relevant insurance. Alongside this, couriers are provided with e-bikes/e-mopeds for launch, helping to reduce takeaway delivery contribution to UK emission levels.

Andrew Kenny, managing director of Just Eat UK, said: “We recognise our responsibility to provide couriers with the best possible opportunities and we’re delighted that almost 2,000 jobs have already been created as part of our worker model.

“We’ve reached this milestone significantly ahead of schedule and following a positive response in London and Birmingham, we’re excited to roll this out to Liverpool, creating 1,500 more roles this year.

“We believe giving couriers access to the benefits and security associated with a model like this is the right thing to do and we’re hugely ambitious to grow this further out across the UK.”

Couriers will have the option to operate from a central hub, a space which they can also use to take breaks. Before heading out on their shifts, they’ll be provided with branded clothing and equipment to boost brand visibility.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, just eat delivers food from 250,000 connected restaurants across the world. It mainly collaborates with delivery restaurants. But also provides its proprietary restaurant delivery services for restaurants that do not deliver themselves.