Over 200 former Wilko employees have received job offers from Poundland as the discount retailer reopens some of Wilko's stores. Last month, Poundland announced its plans to acquire up to
71 Wilko stores from PwC, the administrator overseeing the collapsed retailer's assets, and rebrand them under the Poundland name.
As part of this deal, Poundland has pledged to prioritize former Wilko staff who apply for positions in the reopened stores. The first ten shops, converted from Wilko to Poundland, welcomed customers last weekend.
The collapse of Wilko has been a recent development, with rescue attempts failing, leading to the disappearance of Wilko stores from UK high streets.
Poundland's commitment to hiring former Wilko workers is part of their strategy to revamp and reopen these stores quickly. The company has stated that the number of job offers to former Wilko employees is growing on a day-by-day basis.
In addition to the announcement regarding staff recruitment, Poundland disclosed the next ten former Wilko stores that it intends to reopen under the Poundland brand. These rescued stores are located in Melton Mowbray, Matlock, Chepstow, Kimberley (Nottinghamshire), Worcester, Ellesmere Port, Brigg, Redruth, Ferndown, and Pontypool. All of these stores are scheduled to open their doors to the public on an upcoming Saturday.
Poundland's Managing Director, Austin Cooke, praised the company's workforce for their efforts in rapidly transforming ex-Wilko stores into brand new Poundland outlets in just six days. He described their achievements as "nothing short of phenomenal" and emphasized the company's commitment to creating job opportunities for former Wilko staff.
Cooke also expressed the company's dedication to maintaining this pace and expanding their presence on high streets across the UK. He mentioned that Poundland is eager to provide customers with value for money, and meeting their expectations is a driving force behind these swift transformations and reopenings. The Poundland team is focused on ensuring a seamless transition for both old and new customers during the transformation process.
As Poundland continues its efforts to reopen these former Wilko stores and rebrand them under its name, former Wilko employees have received a lifeline in the form of job offers, providing them with opportunities to continue their careers in the retail industry. Photo by Vauxford, Wikimedia commons.