B&Q has begun consultations with 700 workers who are set to be affected by sweeping changes made to its sales process.
The DIY retailer has revealed plans to change the way it sells kitchens and bathrooms, opting to simplify the procedure so customers only have to deal with one staff member.
This will reportedly speed up the buying process, reducing the time between design to delivery.
It is also understood to be scrapping installation services from December this year, as around 90 per cent of customers choose to use third party fitters.
Of the 700 jobs affected, 300 will be from B&Q’s Homefit service across 14 locations, and 400 will be part of its in-store design arm.
B&Q said that no employees would be worse off as a result, and that the overhauled service will produce 400 new jobs.
“We want to be the leading home improvement company and make home improvement accessible for everyone. That means we need to operate differently,” B&Q retail director Paul Crisp said.
“We’re always looking to make things easier for our customers. The proposed changes will make it simpler for them to buy a kitchen or bathroom… with more colleagues available to serve our customers in our kitchen and bathroom areas.
“We recognise this is a difficult time for those employees who are affected and we are supporting them in a number of ways.”
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