Marks & Spencer confirms 950 jobs are at risk

Marks & Spencer has confirmed that 950 jobs are at risk as part of plans to reduce store management and head office roles.

The high street retailer said the proposals will help move the company to “a leaner, faster retail management structure” as it accelerates its transformation plan after being disrupted by the coronavirus lockdown.

M&S said it has now started collective consultation with employee representatives and has set out plans to first offer voluntary redundancy to affected staff.

It said the cuts would impact roles in the company’s head office, property and store management areas.

Sacha Berendji, director of retail, operations and property at M&S, said: “Our proposals reflect an important next step in our Never The Same Again programme to accelerate our transformation and become a stronger, leaner and more resilient business.

“Through the crisis we have seen how we can work faster and more flexibly by empowering store teams and it’s essential that we embed that way of working.

“Our priority now is to support all those affected through the consultation process and beyond.”

The confirmation follows reports over the weekend that M&S was set to announce the cutting of hundreds of jobs in a wider move that may place thousands at risk. The company had furloughed some 27,000 of its 78,000 workforce amid the COVID-19 crisis which forced the closure of its clothing and home stores.

M&S is the latest in a line of major retailers to announce significant staff reductions. Over the weekend 500 job cuts were reported at Ted Baker while an unspecified number were said to be coming at Harvey Nichols.

Harrods has already said it will be cutting 750 staff while 1,300 roles are at risk at John Lewis after it said it would not reopen eight of its 50 stores after lockdown.