MORE than 1,700 people applied for eight jobs at a new Costa café.
The chain, which runs more than 1,200 coffee shops in the UK, advertised the jobs in early December for its new Mapperley branch.
Since then it has received 1,701 applications – an average of 212 for each post.
The branch is due to open in the former HSBC building in Woodborough Road on Friday.
Sham Ramparia, area manager for the Midlands, said he had not expected this volume of applications and added: "It just shows how hard times are these days but also how popular an employer Costa is."
There are three full-time and five part-time positions.
Mr Ramparia said there had been a "wave" of applications from people previously employed by HMV, which went into administration last month, and Clinton Cards, which experienced a similar fate last year .
"There have been a lot of good, high-calibre applicants, some with ten to 15 years of experience, who are now looking for work because of big companies going into administration," he said.
The new business will be run by two experienced members of staff, who have transferred from other branches to guide the eight newcomers.
Among the new team will be Heather Davies, 25, of Birrell Road, Sherwood, currently being trained to be a barista maestro at the Costa café in Market Place, Long Eaton.
Miss Davies said she considered herself "incredibly lucky" to be taken on.
She previously worked at the Joseph Else Wetherspoon's, off Old Market Square.
She also has previous experience of working for the Belle & Jerome coffee shop, in West Bridgford.
"I'm really happy here," she said. "This is the perfect job for me. I hope the training to be assistant manager will be completed by May. More responsibility is exactly what I've always wanted. I always want to better myself."
Steven Tomlinson, 25, of Nuthall Road, Aspley, has already completed two days of training at Costa's Long Eaton branch and will start his new role as part-time barista on Friday.
He said: "I'm really excited. I'm hoping to be made full-time staff at Costa soon."
