Starbucks is looking beyond London as it announces a five-year store network investment plan, focused on the Midlands, northern England, Wales and Scotland.

The US coffee giant is planning to open 500 new coffee shops across the UK by 2031, creating 7,500 jobs. The new roles will add to Starbucks’ existing UK workforce of more than 18,000 employees.

The company stressed it wanted to make entry-level positions more accessible, with no previous hospitality experience required and training provided from the outset.

More than half of employees in Starbucks’ company-operated UK stores are under the age of 24. Research commissioned by the business found that 68 per cent of 18 to 35-year-olds surveyed believed retail and hospitality jobs were perceived as temporary or stopgap work.

Darren King, vice-president and managing director of Starbucks UK, said the investment would create opportunities in communities across the country.

He added that the company’s Back to Starbucks strategy was focused on creating an environment where employees could develop skills, progress their careers and feel part of a team.

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The expansion marks a significant shift in direction for Starbucks, which closed dozens of underperforming UK outlets last year as part of a $1bn (£750m) global restructuring programme.

The company first outlined its ambition to open 500 additional UK coffee shops in March, as chief executive Brian Niccol pursued a wider turnaround strategy centred on improving customer experience, service and store operations.

The recruitment announcement comes amid wider concerns about youth unemployment and a slowdown in UK hiring.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, welcomed the investment, saying retail and hospitality provided important routes into employment, helping young people build skills and experience while offering opportunities for career progression.