1,000 jobs under threat as 22 TJ Hughes stores to close

MORE than 1,000 jobs are set to go at Liverpool-based retail chain TJ Hughes unless a buyer is quickly found for the stores.

Administrators Ernst & Young today announced that they had commenced closing down sales at 22 of the chain’s remaining 53 stores – including outlets at Birkenhead, Bolton, Burnley, Rochdale, Macclesfield, Widnes, St Helens and Stretford. Between them, the North West stores employ 433 people.

The administrators have said that they are continuing top seek a sale of all the remaining stores as a going concern but that 22 stores will be closed over the next 10 days, potentially leading to 1,061 redundancies.

The firm said employees affected by the closures are being offered appropriate support and advice throughout the redundancy process. Jobcentre Plus representatives are also providing support to help find future employment.

Tom Jack, joint administrator, said: “It is regrettable that we have had to schedule these store closures and we are extremely grateful to the employees and management at all the Group’s stores, at the head office and at warehouses for their loyalty and support during what has been a very difficult and uncertain time.

“We continue in negotiations with a number of interested parties for a large number of the remaining stores in the Group’s portfolio, and we are keen to stress that those stores unaffected by these closures will continue to trade for the time being, with new stock lines being added.”