Loss of 300 B&Q jobs ‘alarming’

The closure of five B&Q stores in Ballymena, Boucher Road, Derry, Sprucefield and Craigavon has been described as “alarming”.

The DIY giant revealed it will close over half of its nine Northern Ireland stores on Tuesday, which is expected to result in the loss of 300 jobs.

The decision came after a review of retail space requirements in the region.

Diarmuid Walsh, B&Q’s divisional director for NI said: “B&Q has served the people of Northern Ireland for 26 years and the decision to reshape our store network in the region has been a hard one to make. However, it forms an important part of our mission to reinvent home improvement for the modern age.

“We remain committed to our customers here and will be investing to offer an enhanced range of home improvement essentials at the four remaining B&Q stores as well as online at diy.com.”

Responding to the closure, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA), Glyn Roberts, said it was “alarming” to see the loss of so many retail jobs in a single day.

“Our thoughts are with the 300 workers and their families at this difficult time and we hope that they will be successful in finding alternative employment,” he said.

“The closure of these five stores has a much wider impact as it also results in the loss of footfall for surrounding retailers.”