Discount retailer recruiting following shift changes

Matalan

Matalan, the Knowsley-based discount retailer, is creating 200 jobs as a result of shift changes at its warehouse operation.

The company said today: “The new roles will follow an updated shift pattern, of four days on duty followed by four days off, to service the growing needs of customers who are increasingly shopping via Matalan’s e-commerce site, complementing the ongoing popularity of visiting its portfolio of stores.”

A Matalan spokesperson added: “As a Knowsley-based business, we’re particularly thrilled to be in a position to invest in new jobs for our community, despite the well-documented challenges facing the wider sector, and to offer colleagues a new option for managing their work/life balance.

“With our ongoing commitment to offering a great customer proposition, it’s important for us to make sure we are best positioned for future growth.

“This new shift pattern reflects the positive momentum being achieved across the business and will enable our continued modernisation as we seek to offer convenience and choice through a seamless omnichannel service that our customers value.

“Moreover, in line with our dedication to being a great place to work, we are pleased to be able to open these opportunities up to our existing colleagues in the first instance, and then to grow our team of colleagues at Knowsley.”

There are currently around 900 warehouse staff working existing shifts at the Knowsley site.

Under the new scheme, these will be offered the option of switching to the new rota first.

Two hundred new staff will then be recruited to either make up any shortfall on the new shift pattern, or to replace staff who have taken up the option of working the new hours.

Matalan was founded by Liverpool docker’s son, John Hargreaves, in 1985. It currently operates more than 200 stores throughout the UK.

In 2009 Hargreaves sought to sell off Matalan but failed to find buyers willing to meet the £1.5bn price tag he set.

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