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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| WH Smith may cut 1,500 jobs after sales plummet | WH Smith may cut 1,500 jobs after sales plummet |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| WH Smith is considering cutting 1,500 jobs - 11% of its workforce - after lockdown caused sales to plummet. | WH Smith is considering cutting 1,500 jobs - 11% of its workforce - after lockdown caused sales to plummet. |
| A trading update said it expected to make losses of between £70-75m. | A trading update said it expected to make losses of between £70-75m. |
| The company said it had been a very difficult decision. It said it was committed to supporting colleagues throughout the process and ensuring it was conducted fairly. | The company said it had been a very difficult decision. It said it was committed to supporting colleagues throughout the process and ensuring it was conducted fairly. |
| The newsagent is the latest High Street name to consider radical action amid the chaos caused by the coronavirus. | The newsagent is the latest High Street name to consider radical action amid the chaos caused by the coronavirus. |
| The company, which has 612 High Street shops and employs more than 14,000, saw revenue at its worst-hit divisions, those at airports and rail stations, fall by 92% in the first month of lockdown. | The company, which has 612 High Street shops and employs more than 14,000, saw revenue at its worst-hit divisions, those at airports and rail stations, fall by 92% in the first month of lockdown. |
| Its best performing division, the High Street, was still 25% down on last year in July after lockdown eased. | Its best performing division, the High Street, was still 25% down on last year in July after lockdown eased. |
| The announcement comes after William Hill said 119 of its High Street betting shops would not re-open after the shutdown forced by the coronavirus outbreak. | The announcement comes after William Hill said 119 of its High Street betting shops would not re-open after the shutdown forced by the coronavirus outbreak. |
| WH Smith group chief executive, Carl Cowling, said: "While there has been some progress in ourHigh Street business, it does continue to be adversely affected by low levels of footfall. | |
| "As a result, we now need to take further action to reduce costs across our businesses. I regret that this will have an impact on a significant number of colleagues whose roles will be affected by these necessary actions." | |
| He added that the company would do "everything we can to support them at this challenging time". | |
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