Retailer begins staff consultation process on redundancy plans

A retailer with several stores in Tayside and Fife has started a consultation process with staff as it plans redundancies.

Currys PC World owner Dixons Carphone is to cut 800 jobs as part of an overhaul of its store management structure.

The company said the shake-up will see it create a “flatter management structure” as it adapts to increasing online sales.

The company operates from the Kingsway West Retail Park in Dundee, St Catherine’s Retail Park in Perth, Fife Central Retail Park in Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline’s Halbeath Retail Park.

Dixons Carphone said it will remove retail manager, assistant manager and team leader roles, introducing new sales manager, customer experience manager and operational excellence manager positions in stores. The move comes just months after the company decided to close six of its standalone Carphone Warehouse shops in Tayside and Fife.

Dixons Carphone’s chief operating officer Mark Allsop said: “We remain committed to our stores as part of an omnichannel future, where we offer the best of online and stores to our customers.

“This proposal will ensure in-store roles are focused on giving a seamless customer experience and exceptional service across all our customer channels, whether online or in-store.

“Sadly, this proposal means we have now entered into consultation with some of our store colleagues.

“This was not an easy decision and we’ll do everything possible to look after those colleagues we can’t find new roles for.”