B&Q refuses to rule out job losses (From Daily Echo)
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B&Q refuses to rule out job losses at head offices in Chandler's Ford
12:50pm Friday 14th September 2012 in Eastleigh
By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter
A B&Q store
B&Q bosses have refused to rule out job cuts at its Hampshire headquarters – a day after revealing a drop in sales at its UK stores.
The giant DIY firm announced earlier this year that it was considering a “realignment” of the board structure at its Chandler’s Ford centre – the workplace for 1,200 people.
But that process – as well as any decision on whether jobs will be lost – is likely to take at least two more months.
Last night Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne said B&Q was “crucial” to the area and hoped cuts could be avoided.
Kingfisher, the company that owns the chain of superstores, revealed on Wednesday how the wettest summer in 100 years had wiped £30m from the group’s profits as demand for gardening and outdoor maintenance goods plunged.
B&Q sales in the UK and Ireland suffered a six per cent like-for-like decline to £2 billion as average footfall plunged 20 per cent in the severely weather- affected weeks.
Retail profit fell 24 per cent, or nearly £40m, to £125m.
While sales of building products were hit by the adverse weather in the six months to the end of July, sales of indoor decorating products were up as customers switched their home improvement activities indoors.
But a company spokesman said their realignment scheme had nothing to do with the latest figures and that the process had already been under way.
When asked by the Daily Echo whether job losses could be ruled out, the spokesman said: “We can’t say that there won’t be any but we can’t give any numbers at this stage.”
She added in a statement: “Following the board changes announced on June 26 and the subsequent discussions around the realignment of our people behind our new board structure, we are creating a new team structure at our head office.
“We have taken a very different approach to creating this new organisation structure, choosing to build and design it with the full involvement of all our internal teams.
“Everyone has thrown themselves into this approach with the simple aim of creating the right organisation for future sustainable growth.”
It comes just a year after staff transferred from their old workplace to a new 220,000 sq ft headquarters next door in Chestnut Avenue, Chandler’s Ford.
The new office, named B&Q House, took just over two years to complete.
Last night Eastleigh Borough Council leader Keith House said the authority would work with the firm if job cuts were announced. He added: “B&Q are a major local employer and like most businesses in the construction and home improvement sector will have had difficult trading conditions.
“They have a reputation as a good employer and we will of course work with them and local training providers to help respond to job losses.”
Mr Huhne added: “Innovative employers like B&Q are crucial to our area, and I would hope that B&Q have a strong enough base here to ride out any difficulties and prevent job cuts.”
Comments(19)
likewatchingbrazil
says...
2:01pm Fri 14 Sep 12
AD07881 wrote:totally agree
Probably as little as five years ago, if you needed anything DIY related from a full bathroom suite right down to a single bolt. B&Q was Joe publics best bet. But nowadays with suppliers like Screwfix and several others including the internet, we have a much wider choice. I think this is where B&Q are loosing out. I would generally use B&Q as a last resort as 9/10 times they are significantly more expensive than elsewhere. However, there will always be the 'need it now' situation where the likes of B&Q with there locality and opening hours, come into there own.
bazzeroz
says...
2:50pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Lone Ranger.
says...
3:05pm Fri 14 Sep 12
.
If you look back over the last 6-8 years you will see the headlines ... :-
.
B&Q take on 1000 people ...... B&Q to lay off staff ....... profits are up ........ Profits are down. ...... New HQ ..... Lay off staff ...... Weather is too hot .... wether is too cold ...... Olympics ......... Royal Wedding.
.
Poor management just tipping staff out at a whim .... poor place to work with no job security beyond 6 months
.
Shoong
says...
4:37pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Lone Ranger. wrote:When did he say that? I'd be interested to see the quotes.
Well i never ........ Wasn't it the CEO of B&Q that said they and companies like them would be able to pick up the Public Sector redundancies.
.
If you look back over the last 6-8 years you will see the headlines ... :-
.
B&Q take on 1000 people ...... B&Q to lay off staff ....... profits are up ........ Profits are down. ...... New HQ ..... Lay off staff ...... Weather is too hot .... wether is too cold ...... Olympics ......... Royal Wedding.
.
Poor management just tipping staff out at a whim .... poor place to work with no job security beyond 6 months
.
News Fanatic
says...
4:38pm Fri 14 Sep 12
The result is that I no longer spend any money in B&Q. One lost customer.
huckit P
says...
6:53pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Because there is usually a queue at the tills worked by staff the self service is usually the quickest option but I have often felt like smashing whatever I am trying to purchase through the screen of the thing to keep it quiet.
Lone Ranger.
says...
7:07pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Shoong wrote:I expect you would be interested to see the quote.
Lone Ranger. wrote:When did he say that? I'd be interested to see the quotes.
Well i never ........ Wasn't it the CEO of B&Q that said they and companies like them would be able to pick up the Public Sector redundancies.
.
If you look back over the last 6-8 years you will see the headlines ... :-
.
B&Q take on 1000 people ...... B&Q to lay off staff ....... profits are up ........ Profits are down. ...... New HQ ..... Lay off staff ...... Weather is too hot .... wether is too cold ...... Olympics ......... Royal Wedding.
.
Poor management just tipping staff out at a whim .... poor place to work with no job security beyond 6 months
.
.
Do what i did... ...... look for it.
.
Try the Echo archives if you are really that interested
J.P.M
says...
8:43pm Fri 14 Sep 12
They are not manufacturers or wealth creators: they are merely large market-stalls around the country.
Being market stalls, they will be subject to the changes in spendable income that are available, and will have to expand and contract as required.
IronLady2010
says...
9:53pm Fri 14 Sep 12
B&Q have more staff than customers and I get fed up of being asked 'Do you need any help'.
Higginz
says...
10:13pm Fri 14 Sep 12
IronLady2010 wrote:Perhaps you look lost and/or confused?
Can we do away with the old **** who does meet and greet. Unless you're blind there are huge signs telling you where everything is. B&Q have more staff than customers and I get fed up of being asked 'Do you need any help'.
I don't think I've been greeted or asked if I require help at any point in my last five visits, which suits me perfectly well. Perhaps I look confident or unapproachable.
IronLady2010
says...
10:19pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Higginz wrote:Try Nursling, they have more staff than customers!
IronLady2010 wrote:Perhaps you look lost and/or confused?
Can we do away with the old **** who does meet and greet. Unless you're blind there are huge signs telling you where everything is. B&Q have more staff than customers and I get fed up of being asked 'Do you need any help'.
I don't think I've been greeted or asked if I require help at any point in my last five visits, which suits me perfectly well. Perhaps I look confident or unapproachable.
Higginz
says...
10:31pm Fri 14 Sep 12
IronLady2010 wrote:Funnily enough, I was there this afternoon and can certainly agree with you. However, I'd certainly prefer there to be staff available, in case I do require assistance, as opposed to the alternative.
Higginz wrote:Try Nursling, they have more staff than customers!IronLady2010 wrote: Can we do away with the old **** who does meet and greet. Unless you're blind there are huge signs telling you where everything is. B&Q have more staff than customers and I get fed up of being asked 'Do you need any help'.Perhaps you look lost and/or confused? I don't think I've been greeted or asked if I require help at any point in my last five visits, which suits me perfectly well. Perhaps I look confident or unapproachable.
That said, this realignment seems to be focussed on their Head Office, not their stores. So you'll likely still be met by your friendly greeter going forward.
andysaints007
says...
12:53am Sat 15 Sep 12
AD07881 wrote:Screwfix is owned by the same company!
Probably as little as five years ago, if you needed anything DIY related from a full bathroom suite right down to a single bolt. B&Q was Joe publics best bet. But nowadays with suppliers like Screwfix and several others including the internet, we have a much wider choice. I think this is where B&Q are loosing out. I would generally use B&Q as a last resort as 9/10 times they are significantly more expensive than elsewhere. However, there will always be the 'need it now' situation where the likes of B&Q with there locality and opening hours, come into there own.
andysaints007
says...
12:55am Sat 15 Sep 12
andysaints007
says...
12:56am Sat 15 Sep 12
pantsanon
says...
6:27pm Sat 15 Sep 12
pantsanon
says...
6:48pm Sat 15 Sep 12
pantsanon
says...
12:43pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Lone Ranger. wrote:I totally agree with you poor management who skim on staff by not adhering to duty to care and dismissing any work life balance should not be in management positions. As long as they get their big bonus;s stuff the staff. A disgusting company who has used " for the good of the business" as an excused not to pay store staff a redundancy package but the staff at head office get one. one rule for one and one rule for head office.
Well i never ........ Wasn't it the CEO of B&Q that said they and companies like them would be able to pick up the Public Sector redundancies.
.
If you look back over the last 6-8 years you will see the headlines ... :-
.
B&Q take on 1000 people ...... B&Q to lay off staff ....... profits are up ........ Profits are down. ...... New HQ ..... Lay off staff ...... Weather is too hot .... wether is too cold ...... Olympics ......... Royal Wedding.
.
Poor management just tipping staff out at a whim .... poor place to work with no job security beyond 6 months
.
AD07881 says...
2:00pm Fri 14 Sep 12