Job Losses
This coverage examines job losses within the UK retail sector, investigating store closures, restructuring initiatives, supplier impact, and workforce reductions. Reporting highlights trends in employment shifts, cost strategies, and executive decisions — offering insight for HR leaders, operations managers, and business executives dealing with staffing challenges and strategic planning.
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Feb- 2024 -12 FebruaryHealth & Beauty
The Body Shop set to appoint administrators
The Body Shop is reportedly set to appoint administrators from FRP Advisory, threatening “significant” shop closures and job losses, according to Sky News. On Saturday it was revealed that the skincare and cosmetics retailer is considering closing a significant number of shops, although the exact number remains unknown. The announcement…
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Jan- 2024 -8 JanuaryNews
Today’s news in brief-8/1/24
The UK retail sector faced challenges as almost 120,000 jobs were lost and over 10,000 stores closed, according to data from the Centre for Retail Research. Despite a -38.8% decrease in store closures compared to 2022, and a -21.3% reduction in redundancies, the improvement is seen as “less bad” rather…
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8 JanuaryEconomy
120,000 retail jobs lost in 2023
Almost 120,000 retail employees lost their jobs in 2023 after more than 10,000 shops shuttered over the year, according to new data from the Centre for Retail Research. It found that during the 2023 calendar year, a total of 119,405 jobs were lost and 10,494 stores were shuttered across the…
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Sep- 2023 -18 SeptemberNews
Today’s news in brief
Mike Ashley is reportedly in talks to sell the online clothing label Missguided to Shein, a Chinese-founded online fashion platform. If successful, this would mark Shein’s first acquisition of a British fashion brand. The deal is anticipated to cover Missguided’s brand and intellectual property, with Ashley’s company retaining its head…
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18 SeptemberHigh Street
Over 100,000 retail jobs lost since 2020 after Wilko collapse
The number of retail job losses since 2020 is set to pass 100,000 as a result of the 12,500 jobs at risk after the collapse of Wilko, according to data from the Centre for Retail Research. The latest data shows that there have been more than 17,000 jobs lost at…
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7 SeptemberSupermarkets
Waitrose staff warned of job losses amid shift overhauls
Waitrose staff have reportedly been warned that their jobs could be at risk as the retailer looks to change work shifts and hours in a bid to increase productivity and lower costs across the group. According to the Financial Times, the move forms part of a new project for the…
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Aug- 2023 -24 AugustHigh Street
Majority of Wilko stores to close ‘within weeks’
The majority of remaining Wilko stores are set to shutter “within weeks” and redundancies are expected to begin after the embattled retailer failed to secure a buyer, the GMB Union has warned. The union said it was recently informed by administrators that there was “no longer any prospect that the…
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8 AugustHigh Street
Gordon Brothers mulls potential Wilko rescue deal
The investment company, Gordon Brothers, which has backed high street retailer Laura Ashley, is in talks with Wilko’s advisers at PwC about structuring a potential deal, Sky News has learned. An offer could involve Gordon Brothers providing funding to the discount retailer to implement a restructuring that would involve “significant”…
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May- 2023 -10 MayDepartment Stores
John Lewis chair receives council backing despite disapproval on performance
John Lewis chair Dame Sharon White has been backed by the John Lewis council on whether they have confidence in her leadership moving forward, despite them voicing their disapproval over her decisions in the past year. According to reports, White faced two votes on her leadership at the John Leadership…
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Apr- 2023 -13 AprilHigh Street
BRC calls for business rates freeze amid Labour’s high street rescue plan
The British Retail Consortium has responded to Labour’s five-point plan to revitalise high streets by calling for a permanent freeze on business rates. Leader Sir Keir Starmer revealed the party’s high streets policy during a local election campaign visit to Great Yarmouth and said that the Labour government would “boost…
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