Type
Internal restructuring
Country
United Kingdom
Region
London;
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Professional Services
Professional Services And Management Consultancy
Activities Of Head Offices; Management Consultancy Activities
70.10 - Activities of head offices

525 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
5 September 2016
Employment effect (start)
5 September 2016
Foreseen end date

Description

UK retailer Marks & Spencer has announced plans to reduce the workforce from three head office locations in central London by 525 jobs. Of the 525 job losses, around 260 are permanent roles and the balance are contractors. Before this announcement, the company had seven head office locations where 3,500 people were employed.

In addition, the number of permanent IT and logistics roles based in central London head offices will be reduced by 400. IT and logistics functions will instead take place in the company offices located in Hertfordshire and  Middlesex.

Since taking over as the new chief executive in April 2016, Steve Rowe has embarked on a program of simplifying the retailer’s structure. To date, this has included restructuring the senior management team and reducing the size of the operating committee. In total, the company employs more than 71,000 people across the United Kingdom.


Sources

  • 5 September 2016: BBC News Website
  • 5 September 2016: Business Insider

Citation

Eurofound (2016), Marks & Spencer, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 88464, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/88464.