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Wickes owner Travis Perkins has revealed plans to cut almost 2,500 jobs amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
It comes amid a consultation process regarding the closure of around 165 branches across its overall estate, representing approximately 8% of the group’s network.
The company said branch closures will be concentrated in the merchant businesses, in particular the Travis Perkins General Merchant, focusing on small branches where it is either difficult to implement safe distancing practices, or where marginal profitability will be eroded in a reduced volume environment.
Over the last six weeks, the group has continued to open more of its branches under the safe, social-distancing working practices, and group volumes in May were around 60% of prior year with an improving trend throughout the month.
However, Travis Perkins noted that while there had been a significant recovery in trading volumes in recent weeks, it said the UK is “facing a recession and this will have a corresponding impact on the demand for building materials during 2020 and 2021”.
Nick Roberts, chief executive, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has created significant challenges across our Group and I have been hugely encouraged by the flexibility of our colleagues to adapt our business models successfully and at pace, which has enabled us to maintain safe working practices whilst continuing to provide an effective service to our customers.
“Whilst we have experienced improving trends more recently, we do not expect a return to pre-COVID trading conditions for some time and consequently we have had to take the very difficult decision to begin consultations on the closure of selected branches and to reduce our workforce to ensure we can protect the Group as a whole.”
He added: “This is in no way a reflection on those employees impacted and we will do everything we can to support them during this process.
“The group has a robust balance sheet, strong liquidity position and I am confident that these proposed changes will enable us to trade successfully through this period of uncertainty with a cost base that better reflects the environment we are operating in.”
