It's quite a challenge: recruiting and training the 400 staff who'll need to be in place when Bluestone, Pembrokeshire's new short-break destination, opens next summer.

But not only is Debbie Rainbow, Bluestone's newly- appointed director of human resources, unfazed, she's positively relishing the task.

Says Debbie: "Bluestone is a unique, groundbreaking project, not just for Pembrokeshire, but for the leisure industry across the UK. I'm excited to be part of it, and I'm sure that once we go out and explain what we're able to provide as employers, there'll be many, many others equally keen to come on board."

With Debbie at the forefront, Bluestone is about to launch a major recruitment drive. Four-hundred people will be required by the time the development opens next summer. Another 200 people will be required when the second phase of lodges is complete, and at least another 100 when the snow centre - on which work is due to start in 2009 - is up and running.

"We'll be looking for people to work in retail, in our spa, in Blue Lagoon, the sports club, our restaurants and reservations centre," said Debbie. "We'll need people for admin, front-of-house, housekeeping, and all sorts of other things.

"There'll be a wide range of opportunities and we're not necessarily looking for people with experience. We're looking for people with the right attitude: people willing to learn new skills; people who want to help raise the bar for customer service.

"We want to attract people from all sorts of backgrounds: people who just want to work a couple of hours a week because they've got childcare or other commitments; retired people who want to come back into work, either full-time or part-time.

"We'll find solutions for the transport issues we know people have. We'll provide crèche facilities. We want to provide child care vouchers so people can get tax relief. Basically, if you've got the right attitude, we want you.

"We aim to raise the bar in terms of customer service, but we also want people to know we understand the work-life balance. We want to provide a work environment where people can have a life as well as a fantastic job they look forward to coming to every day."

The recruitment drive will take the form of one open day in Milford Haven on November 17, followed by a series of smaller events in other locations throughout Pembrokeshire and west Carmarthenshire. The events are designed to tell potential applicants all there is to know about working for Bluestone, and will be hosted by all members of the Bluestone management team.

Information will also be available in job centres, via fliers and posters, and on the Bluestone website, http://www.bluestonewales.com">www.bluestonewales.com.