House of Fraser axes online jobs

The digital team at House of Fraser has been reduced to 10 people after the retailer made eight people redundant, as part of a wider restructuring scheme.

According to Drapers, some of the functions of the eight online jobs that were cut have been outsourced to India, where House of Fraser’s IT department is based.

The job cuts come a month after digital director David Seeby left the retailer, and just weeks after new chief executive  Alex Williamson took over the helm on July 31.

The department store chain recently kicked off its five year strategy, which includes some structural changes and a consultation process with some staff members that could result in redundancies.

Other than the digital team, Drapers reports that House of Fraser’s merchandising and design teams could also be up for consultation.

READ MORE:  House of Fraser digital director resigns after 6 months

“In line with our strategy outlined in March to focus on becoming a more customer-centric, experience-led retailer, House of Fraser announced organisational changes that will support the transformation of the business,” a House of Fraser spokeswoman said.

”As a result, House of Fraser has entered into a consultation process with a small number of colleagues over potential redundancies within head office. Further than that we cannot comment.”

Other elements in the department store’s five-year strategy include dropping 30 womenswear brands, launching in-store champagne bars and yoga studios, refocusing its customer base and relaunching its website.

Apart from Seeby’s resignation, House of Fraser endured a series of exits from senior management staff, with former chief executive Nigel Oddy, supply chain director Ray Kavanagh, chief customer officer Andy Harding, global multichannel director Martin Francis, clothing head Jackie Hay, and home, food and beauty boss Ysanne Jenkins all leaving in the past year or so.

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