Productivity
This coverage explores productivity in the UK retail industry, focusing on workforce effectiveness, operational efficiency, process innovation, and cost control. Reporting provides insight into how retailers optimise resources and performance to remain competitive — supporting executives, managers, and professionals driving improvement initiatives.
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Nov- 2023 -6 NovemberSupermarkets
M&S to open record number of stores this month amid £80m investment
M&S will be opening nine new stores across the month of November – the most it has ever opened in one month – following a £80m investment in sustainable bricks-and-mortar retail. The openings, which will also create over 2,200 local jobs, will kick off with a new 65,000 sq ft…
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Oct- 2023 -27 OctoberNews
Lakeland partners with Retail Trust for new staff wellbeing measures
Kitchenware and homeware retailer Lakeland has begun working with retail industry charity the Retail Trust to protect the wellbeing of its 1300+ members of staff. They will be given access to a range of personalised mental health resources thanks to the new partnership, including counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy for…
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Sep- 2023 -26 SeptemberNews
Failure to reform Apprenticeship Levy cost retailers 12,000 lost apprenticeships, BRC says
Retailers could have offered 12,000 more apprenticeships over the past year if it was not for the Government’s failure to reform the Apprenticeship Levy, according to a survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The industry took on approximately 17,000 apprenticeships in that period, meaning Levy reform could boost this…
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14 SeptemberNews
The Entertainer appoints new CEO
The Entertainer, the UK’s largest independent toy retailer, has announced the appointment of Andrew Murphy as group chief executive officer. Murphy most recently held the role of group chief operating officer at John Lewis Partnership (JLP). He started his career on the John Lewis shop floor in Aberdeen, rising quickly…
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12 SeptemberDIY
Wickes revenues hit £827.7m in H1 as DIFM sales recover
Wickes revenues grew 0.7% to £827.7m in the 26-week period to 1 July, following a sales uplift of 5.8% in ‘Do It For Me’ (DIFM) activity. The group’s adjusted profit before tax and SaaS IT investment costs hit £34.8m compared with £41.3m in H1 2022, as cost inflation exceeded revenue…
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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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Jul- 2023 -5 JulyFeatures
What are the sound levels in the office acoustic booths?
In practice, it is common for offices, especially open-plan spaces, to be noisy, which causes difficulties in concentration and is one of the main factors in job burnout. For this reason an increasing number of companies are choosing to incorporate acoustic pods into open spaces to provide space for one-to-one…
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Jun- 2023 -30 JuneFeatures
How is AI shaping the retail sector?
Can you tell me about yourself and your experience in the retail industry? I am a partner with BearingPoint, a leading Management and Technology Consultancy, and I have responsibility for the Consumer Goods and Retail sector in the UK. Prior to joining BearingPoint, I had a long career working in…
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20 JuneOnline & Digital
Gear4music falls to £0.4m loss in FY23
Gear4music has reported a loss after tax of £0.4m for the full year ended 31 March 2023, despite its revenue increasing by 3% to £152m. The online musical instruments retailer also reported EBITDA of £7.4m which is 34% below FY22 and 5% below FY20. According to the CEO of Gear4music,…
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12 JuneNews
UK economy set to grow amid increased investment, says CBI
The economy looks to have fared better than expected in the first half of 2023, and is set to steer clear of a recession, according to the CBI’s latest Economic Forecast. The CBI has forecasted 0.4% growth in GDP over 2023, picking up to 1.8% in 2024, upgraded from -0.4%…
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