New Look makes job cuts as night shift is axed

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 17, 2023

Fashion retailer New Look is making job cuts with around 500 posts at its Staffordshire distribution centre at risk. Reports quoted the retailer saying the move comes as it’s rebalancing its physical store estate and adapting to a rise in online sales.

The plan is to change working hours at the centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme with the night shift being axed. That means 503 of the 1,200 roles there are at risk.

But the company also said that it expects to be able to offer “a considerable number” of people who would be affected new roles on the day shift. Some 300 new day shift jobs could be created.

New Look has launched a consultation process with affected staff with the aim being to make the redundancies from mid-May.

The retailer is headed by CEO Helen Connolly — the former CEO of Bonmarché — who replaced Nigel Oddy last June.

The company had a tough time during the pandemic but appears to have been bouncing back since then. It has also unveiled a number of new initiatives including moving into pre-owned with Re-Fashion, opening more Asda concessions, and entering outlet retail for the first time.