Borders jobs at risk as builders merchants announce branch closures and cuts plan

Travis Perkins has announced plans to cut 2,500 jobs, around 9% of its workforce, and close outlets as a result of the pandemic.

The group, with 645 branches in the UK including 30 in Scotland, said job losses would result from the closure of around 165 of its branches, plus job cuts within its distribution, administration and sales functions.

Around 12 staff across the outlets in Kelso’s Spylaw Road and the industrial estate at Newtown St Boswells’ are expecting to hear this week whether they will be affected.

The firm closed its branch in Selkirk’s Whinfield Road around two years ago.

In a statement, the company said that smaller branches where social distancing is hard or impossible to implement are those most likely to close. Those with lower-margin outlets are also likely to be targeted.

In an email to Borders customers yesterday the firm’s managing director Kieran Griffin added: “Over the last few months we have focused on doing the right thing for our colleagues, customers and communities in which we trade. Whilst our operations are stabilising and there are some early signs of recovery - we must prepare for the challenge ahead.

“These changes include a number of branch closures and the scaling back of some of our activities to ensure that we have a healthy, sustainable business that meets the needs of our customers now and in the future.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and in all cases we will look to redeploy displaced colleagues as much as possible - and we will support those affected through the process every step of the way.

“We are committed to serving your business - and if you are a customer of a branch that is facing closure, we will be in touch with you this week.”

The Travis Perkins group shut around two-thirds of its merchant branches and about half of its plumbing and heating outlets at the start of lockdown. It began a phased reopening in late April and said weekly volume had recovered to around 85% to 90% of 2019 levels, up from around 60% in May.