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Wickes has announced that it will take on 900 staff from B&Q to add to its bespoke kitchen and bathroom department to meet demand.
The DIY retailer has said that demand for fully designed and installed kitchens is continuing to grow so it is investing significantly in its professional kitchen and bathroom offer by acquiring design consultants and installers from B&Q after it recently decided to pull these services from its business.
Wickes currently has over 600 design consultants spread across 230 showrooms nationally, and is looking to add an additional 150 design consultants and take on a further 750 skilled fitters. Investment in its kitchen and bathroom offering also includes new showroom layouts and store refits in over 100 stores to date.
The transition of the new team will be completed by the end of 2018.
Fraser Longden, operations director at Wickes, said: “Our kitchen and bathroom showroom offering is witnessing an increasing demand from consumers wanting a fully installed service, so by taking on more installers and design consultants, we’ll be able to undertake more projects for customers.
“We believe that the demand and growth in this area represents a multi-million pound opportunity, and a bolstered team will help us tap into this, becoming the go-to-brand when it comes to choosing a new kitchen or bathroom.”
He added: “We’re really excited to welcome a new pool of talent that will bring some fantastic experience to our business, and delighted that so many are choosing to further their career with us.”
B&Q announced at the start of the month that it was to make changes to its sales processes with 700 employees possibly affected by the changes.
