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| WH Smith may cut 1,500 jobs after sales plummet | WH Smith may cut 1,500 jobs after sales plummet |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| WH Smith is considering cutting 1,500 jobs - 11% of its workforce - after the lockdown caused sales to plummet. | WH Smith is considering cutting 1,500 jobs - 11% of its workforce - after the lockdown caused sales to plummet. |
| Most of the jobs being lost will be at the company's travel sites, situated at airports and railway stations. | Most of the jobs being lost will be at the company's travel sites, situated at airports and railway stations. |
| The firm said the impact of the coronavirus outbreak meant it expected to report a loss of £70-75m for the year to the end of August. | The firm said the impact of the coronavirus outbreak meant it expected to report a loss of £70-75m for the year to the end of August. |
| WH Smith is the latest High Street name to consider job cuts amid the disruption caused by the pandemic. | WH Smith is the latest High Street name to consider job cuts amid the disruption caused by the pandemic. |
| The company has 575 High Street shops and employs more than 14,000 people. Revenue at its travel division, which includes stores at airports and rail stations, fell 92% in the first month of lockdown. | The company has 575 High Street shops and employs more than 14,000 people. Revenue at its travel division, which includes stores at airports and rail stations, fell 92% in the first month of lockdown. |
| At its High Street division, sales were still 25% down in July after lockdown eased. | At its High Street division, sales were still 25% down in July after lockdown eased. |
| WH Smith said it had now reopened all its High Street stores and 246 of its largest travel division sites, those in airports, railway stations and hospitals. | WH Smith said it had now reopened all its High Street stores and 246 of its largest travel division sites, those in airports, railway stations and hospitals. |
| 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. Also on Wednesday, fashion chain M&Co said it, too, was cutting 340 jobs and closing 47 stores. | 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. Also on Wednesday, fashion chain M&Co said it, too, was cutting 340 jobs and closing 47 stores. |
| WH Smith, which made £155m in profit last year, said the job cuts and associated restructuring would cost it between £15-19m, but added it had enough funds to get through a prolonged downturn. | WH Smith, which made £155m in profit last year, said the job cuts and associated restructuring would cost it between £15-19m, but added it had enough funds to get through a prolonged downturn. |
| Group chief executive Carl Cowling said: "While there has been some progress in our High Street business, it does continue to be adversely affected by low levels of footfall. | Group chief executive Carl Cowling said: "While there has been some progress in our High 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." | "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". | He added that the company would do "everything we can to support them at this challenging time". |
| News of the latest cuts comes after a wave of retail redundancies. On Monday, DW Sports said up to 1,700 jobs were at risk. John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Boots and Selfridges are among other big names to announce job cuts. | News of the latest cuts comes after a wave of retail redundancies. On Monday, DW Sports said up to 1,700 jobs were at risk. John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Boots and Selfridges are among other big names to announce job cuts. |
| The restaurant sector has also been hit hard, with Pizza Express warning on Tuesday that 1,100 jobs could go as part of a restructuring that could see 15% of outlets shut. | The restaurant sector has also been hit hard, with Pizza Express warning on Tuesday that 1,100 jobs could go as part of a restructuring that could see 15% of outlets shut. |
| And the travel and tourism sector continues to suffer, with Hayes Travel saying on Monday that almost 900 jobs would go. | And the travel and tourism sector continues to suffer, with Hayes Travel saying on Monday that almost 900 jobs would go. |
| Barely a week into August, and already some 6,000 jobs have been lost or are under threat as the furlough scheme starts to wind down. | Barely a week into August, and already some 6,000 jobs have been lost or are under threat as the furlough scheme starts to wind down. |
| Here, courtesy of the Press Association news agency, is a list of major employers that have announced that jobs will be lost, or are at risk, since the start of the pandemic. | Here, courtesy of the Press Association news agency, is a list of major employers that have announced that jobs will be lost, or are at risk, since the start of the pandemic. |
| August 4: Dixons Carphone - 800 | August 4: Dixons Carphone - 800 |
| August 4: Pizza Express - 1,100 at risk | August 4: Pizza Express - 1,100 at risk |
| August 3: Hays Travel - up to 878 | August 3: Hays Travel - up to 878 |
| August 3: DW Sports - 1,700 at risk | August 3: DW Sports - 1,700 at risk |
| July 31: Byron - 651 | July 31: Byron - 651 |
| July 30: Pendragon - 1,800 | July 30: Pendragon - 1,800 |
| July 29: Waterstones - unknown number of head office roles | July 29: Waterstones - unknown number of head office roles |
| July 28: Selfridges - 450 | July 28: Selfridges - 450 |
| July 27: Oak Furnitureland - 163 at risk | July 27: Oak Furnitureland - 163 at risk |
| July 23: Dyson - 600 in UK, 300 overseas | July 23: Dyson - 600 in UK, 300 overseas |
| July 22: Mears - fewer than 200 | July 22: Mears - fewer than 200 |
| July 20: Marks & Spencer - 950 at risk | July 20: Marks & Spencer - 950 at risk |
| July 17: Azzurri Group (owns Zizzi and Ask Italian) - up to 1,200 | July 17: Azzurri Group (owns Zizzi and Ask Italian) - up to 1,200 |
| July 16: Genting - 1,642 at risk | July 16: Genting - 1,642 at risk |
| July 16: Burberry - 150 in UK, 350 overseas | July 16: Burberry - 150 in UK, 350 overseas |
| July 15: Banks Mining - 250 at risk | July 15: Banks Mining - 250 at risk |
| July 15: Buzz Bingo - 573 at risk | July 15: Buzz Bingo - 573 at risk |
| July 14: Vertu - 345 | July 14: Vertu - 345 |
| July 14: DFS - up to 200 at risk | July 14: DFS - up to 200 at risk |
| July 9: General Electric - 369 | July 9: General Electric - 369 |
| July 9: Eurostar - unknown number | July 9: Eurostar - unknown number |
| July 9: Boots - 4,000 | July 9: Boots - 4,000 |
| July 9: John Lewis - 1,300 at risk | July 9: John Lewis - 1,300 at risk |
| July 9: Burger King - 1,600 at risk | July 9: Burger King - 1,600 at risk |
| July 7: Reach (owns Daily Mirror and Daily Express newspapers) - 550 | July 7: Reach (owns Daily Mirror and Daily Express newspapers) - 550 |
| July 6: Pret a Manger - 1,000 at risk | July 6: Pret a Manger - 1,000 at risk |
| July 2: Casual Dining Group (owns Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge) - 1,909 | July 2: Casual Dining Group (owns Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge) - 1,909 |
| July 1: SSP (owns Upper Crust) - 5,000 at risk | July 1: SSP (owns Upper Crust) - 5,000 at risk |
| July 1: Arcadia (owns TopShop) - 500 | July 1: Arcadia (owns TopShop) - 500 |
| July 1: Harrods - 700 | July 1: Harrods - 700 |
| July 1: Virgin Money - 300 | July 1: Virgin Money - 300 |
| June 30: Airbus - 1,700 | June 30: Airbus - 1,700 |
| June 30: TM Lewin - 600 | June 30: TM Lewin - 600 |
| June 30: Smiths Group - "some job losses" | June 30: Smiths Group - "some job losses" |
| June 25: Royal Mail - 2,000 | June 25: Royal Mail - 2,000 |
| June 24: Jet2 - 102 | June 24: Jet2 - 102 |
| June 24: Swissport - 4,556 | June 24: Swissport - 4,556 |
| June 24: Crest Nicholson - 130 | June 24: Crest Nicholson - 130 |
| June 23: Shoe Zone - unknown number of jobs in head office | June 23: Shoe Zone - unknown number of jobs in head office |
| June 19: Aer Lingus - 500 | June 19: Aer Lingus - 500 |
| June 17: HSBC - unknown number of jobs in UK, 35,000 worldwide | June 17: HSBC - unknown number of jobs in UK, 35,000 worldwide |
| June 15: Jaguar Land Rover - 1,100 | June 15: Jaguar Land Rover - 1,100 |
| June 15: Travis Perkins - 2,500 | June 15: Travis Perkins - 2,500 |
| June 12: Le Pain Quotidien - 200 | June 12: Le Pain Quotidien - 200 |
| June 11: Heathrow - at least 500 | June 11: Heathrow - at least 500 |
| June 11: Bombardier - 600 | June 11: Bombardier - 600 |
| June 11: Johnson Matthey - 2,500 | June 11: Johnson Matthey - 2,500 |
| June 11: Centrica - 5,000 | June 11: Centrica - 5,000 |
| June 10: Quiz - 93 | June 10: Quiz - 93 |
| June 10: The Restaurant Group (owns Frankie and Benny's) - 3,000 | June 10: The Restaurant Group (owns Frankie and Benny's) - 3,000 |
| June 10: Monsoon Accessorise - 545 | June 10: Monsoon Accessorise - 545 |
| June 10: Everest Windows - 188 | June 10: Everest Windows - 188 |
| June 8: BP - 10,000 worldwide | June 8: BP - 10,000 worldwide |
| June 8: Mulberry - 375 | June 8: Mulberry - 375 |
| June 5: Victoria's Secret - 800 at risk | June 5: Victoria's Secret - 800 at risk |
| June 5: Bentley - 1,000 | June 5: Bentley - 1,000 |
| June 4: Aston Martin - 500 | June 4: Aston Martin - 500 |
| June 4: Lookers - 1,500 | June 4: Lookers - 1,500 |
| May 29: Belfast International Airport - 45 | May 29: Belfast International Airport - 45 |
| May 28: Debenhams (in second announcement) - "hundreds" of jobs | May 28: Debenhams (in second announcement) - "hundreds" of jobs |
| May 28: EasyJet - 4,500 worldwide | May 28: EasyJet - 4,500 worldwide |
| May 26: McLaren - 1,200 | May 26: McLaren - 1,200 |
| May 22: Carluccio's - 1,000 | May 22: Carluccio's - 1,000 |
| May 21: Clarks - 900 | May 21: Clarks - 900 |
| May 20: Rolls-Royce - 9,000 | May 20: Rolls-Royce - 9,000 |
| May 20: Bovis Homes - unknown number | May 20: Bovis Homes - unknown number |
| May 19: Ovo Energy - 2,600 | May 19: Ovo Energy - 2,600 |
| May 19: Antler - 164 | May 19: Antler - 164 |
| May 15: JCB - 950 at risk | May 15: JCB - 950 at risk |
| May 13: Tui - 8,000 worldwide | May 13: Tui - 8,000 worldwide |
| May 12: Carnival UK (owns P&O Cruises and Cunard) - 450 | May 12: Carnival UK (owns P&O Cruises and Cunard) - 450 |
| May 11: P&O Ferries - 1,100 worldwide | May 11: P&O Ferries - 1,100 worldwide |
| May 5: Virgin Atlantic - 3,150 | May 5: Virgin Atlantic - 3,150 |
| May 1: Ryanair - 3,000 worldwide | May 1: Ryanair - 3,000 worldwide |
| April 30: Oasis Warehouse - 1,800 | April 30: Oasis Warehouse - 1,800 |
| April 29: WPP - unknown number | April 29: WPP - unknown number |
| April 28: British Airways - up to 12,000 | April 28: British Airways - up to 12,000 |
| April 23: Safran Seats - 400 | April 23: Safran Seats - 400 |
| April 23: Meggitt - 1,800 worldwide | April 23: Meggitt - 1,800 worldwide |
| April 21: Cath Kidston - 900 | April 21: Cath Kidston - 900 |
| April 17: Debenhams - 422 | April 17: Debenhams - 422 |
| March 31: Laura Ashley - 268 | March 31: Laura Ashley - 268 |
| March 30: BrightHouse - 2,400 at risk | March 30: BrightHouse - 2,400 at risk |
| March 27: Chiquito - 1,500 at risk. | March 27: Chiquito - 1,500 at risk. |