BHS will close all of its remaining 114 stores by August 20 – including those in South Manchester, Stockport and Cheshire.
The firm announced it was going into administration in April but as a buyer hasn’t been found administrators have announced all remaining stores will close next month, affecting about 5,000 people.
The stores in Stockport, Chester, Crewe and Handforth Dean are among the stores to close next month, while the one at The Trafford Centre close at new year. In total, 11,000 jobs will be lost.
Some stores have already closed and several more are due to shut this weekend with former boss Sir Philip Green blamed for the company’s collapse.
A damning MPs’ report found Sir Philip, the billionaire former owner of BHS, extracted large sums and left the business on “life support”.
Shopworkers’ union Usdaw says there are ‘still some very serious questions that need to be answered’ about how the company, opened in 1928 as British Home Stores, has been allowed to disappear from the high street.
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Dave Gill, Usdaw National Officer said: “Today’s announcement is the final hammer blow to BHS staff, who have been worried about their future for over a year since the company was sold for £1 and more recently put in the hands of the administrators.
“Following the news that all remaining BHS stores will be closed by August 20, Usdaw calls on the administrators to redouble their efforts in finding a buyer for the remaining stores and to secure as many jobs as possible.
“We also call on Sir Philip Green to honour the two promises he made to BHS staff as soon as possible after the company went into administration.
“Firstly, to offer employment within the Arcadia Group to the blameless, dedicated and loyal staff who suddenly find themselves unemployed. Secondly, to ‘sort’ the pension scheme and we await details of what he proposes.
“The 11,000 hard working and loyal staff will today be feeling very angry and totally let down following the publication of the Parliamentary Select Committee Report into the running of BHS.
“There are still some very serious questions that need to be answered, by former owners of the business, about how a company with decades of history and experience in retail has now come to this very sorry end.
“We also urge other high street retailers to look seriously at quickly re-employing the dedicated and experienced BHS workers who will all soon be unemployed.
“In the meantime we are providing the support, advice and representation our members require at this difficult time.”
