Retailer rejects council plan to save 2,000 jobs
APOTENTIAL rescue package to save almost 2,000 jobs in the region was put forward by council bosses - but chiefs at Shop Direct were ‘unwilling to engage.’
The shock announcement last week that the major company - which owns Littlewoods and Very - revealed plans it would close its distribution centres in Shaw and Little Hulton and its returns centre at Raven Mill in Chadderton in 2020.
Relocation to the East Midlands meant a loss of 1,992 employees from across the region.
Oldham Council met with Shop Direct bosses to offer an alternative site with a business package, at Broadway Green, Chadderton.
But it was rejected.
Redundancies ahead as planned.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority, who held the meeting stated: “It was disappointing that there was no willingness to engage on these proposals.
“Regrettably, it quickly became apparent that Shop Direct have committed to their East Midlands site and their plan of a staged transition starting in two years’ time.”
MP for Oldham West, Jim McMahon, said secure jobs are now needed in the area.
He said: “The impact of this cannot be underestimated and the response in support of the people affected must reflect this.
“The closure of Shop Direct has brought into sharp focus the need for Oldham to secure jobs and ones which are accessible to local people.
“We need improved transport across Greater Manchester, so that more will go employment opportunities are made available.
“But we also need Government led investment to attract employers to Oldham. Oldham is working hard to attract investment but without meaningful resources from government it’s often an uphill battle.
“I have returned to Parliament this week and requested that this issues be discussed at the highest possible level.”
A spokeswoman for Shop Direct said: “We are grateful to the Mayor of Greater Manchester for convening a very constructive meeting last week. We take our responsibility to our affected colleagues extremely seriously, and we will continue to work closely with local authorities, community leaders and Usdaw over the next two to three years as we help to prepare them in the best possible way for the transition ahead.”