// Screwfix will create 800 retail jobs by January as part of plans to open 80 new shops across the UK and Ireland
// The expansion comes despite the company reporting a rare fall in sales at its Screwfix stores in the three months to the end of January
As part of plans to open 80 new shops across the UK and Ireland, home improvement business Screwfix said this morning it is to create 800 retail jobs by January.
The retailer’s sales were boosted during the pandemic as Brits hired tradespeople to spruce up their properties and gardens during nationwide lockdowns.
Screwfix and B&Q owner Kingfisher enjoyed profits of more than £1 billion last year, as the DIY boom seen through the pandemic continued.
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The retailer will be recruiting sales assistants and management roles for its new stores as well as giving new recruits the chance to join its apprenticeship scheme, which currently trains 850 staff in areas including retail management and human resources.
The expansion will create vacancies in locations across the UK and Ireland including Swanley and Brackley and CEO John Mewett said its expansion plans are responding to sustained demand from tradespeople who need tools.
While last month, he said the post-pandemic shift to working from home would continue to fuel the surge in DIY.
Mewett said: “We know how busy tradespeople are and how important it is to be able to find a Screwfix store close to site.
“In opening more stores across the UK and Ireland, we’re making Screwfix even more accessible to tradespeople, ensuring they can get their job done quickly, affordably and right first time.
“We’re also delighted to be having a positive impact on local communities, creating more than 800 jobs for local people.”
The expansion comes despite the business reporting a rare fall in sales at its Screwfix stores in the three months to the end of January, falling by 4.2% in that period.
However cost pressures have not hindered the retailer’s growth plans as it pushes ahead with expansion.
Screwfix opened 70 new stores last year and the additions this year will take its total stores to 870.
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