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| Woolworths woes threaten student jobs | Send to a friend |
| Written by Martin George | |||||
| Thursday, 04 December 2008 14:26 | |||||
Up to 15 Kingston University student jobs are at risk as Woolworths threatens to become the town’s highest profile victim of the credit crunch.Some staff at the Kingston Market Place branch are already looking for other jobs after the company went
One university student, who spoke anonymously after managers banned staff talking to the media, said the atmosphere was very difficult. “A lot of people have careers there. Everyone was very worried that we would not be paid last Friday. The media said the bank might block it, but we were paid as normal.”
Managers at the store have told staff that it is “business as usual” and that the store may stay open until January, but National Lottery provider Camelot pulled ticket sales worth thousands of pounds, and the Royal Mail stopped its usual delivery of change for the tills.
The retail chain, which employs 50-60 people in Kingston, called in administrators and shut down its retail website after reporting a record £90.8 million pre-tax loss for the first half of the year, and seeing its shares fall by over 90 per cent in 12 months.
The staff member said customers have been very sympathetic, and that the store has been busy since the announcement. “Sales went through the roof at the weekend because customers thought it may be their last opportunity to shop there before it closes.”
Joanne Drew, a third year English Literature and Sociology student who has shopped at Woolworths since she was a child, said she was saddened by the news: “It’s cheaper than Virgin or HMV and good value for money. I would miss it if it closed.”
In a statement, administrators Deloitte said: “Our expectation is that all stores will remain open past Christmas and all employees in those stores will be paid. Deloitte has received substantial interest from a number of interested parties, including parties interested in buying the Woolworths stores as a going concern. Talks are ongoing with a range of parties."
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