Peacocks stores in Wirral close doors while shocked staff on duty and told out of a job

Feb 29 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Bromborough and Bebington News

STAFF from two clothing stores in Wirral were left devastated when they were told they were losing their jobs.

Two Peacocks stores in Birkenhead and Bromborough closed their doors for the final time last Wednesday.

One member of staff, Dave Holt, wasn’t working at the time and was told the news by phone.

Two other staff said they were not even contacted and claimed they heard about their redundancies through Facebook.

Dave, 25, who has worked at Peacocks’ Birkenhead store for the past five years, told the News: “We are devastated. The way it was handled was awful.

“I finished work at noon on Wednesday then about 3.30pm I got a call from a woman who said she was from KPMG administrators.

“She said Peacocks has been saved but unfortunately the Birkenhead shop hadn’t been kept.

“She advised to go me to go the job centre and said ‘hope that’s ok’, I said of course I’m not ok – I’ve just lost my job.

“My colleague Chris rang and told me what happened at the shop, as she was working at the time.

“They were told about 3pm when the KPMG administrator told them the store has now ceased trading.

“Customers were in the shop and were allowed to purchase their goods quickly, but the doors had to be shut so no other customers could go in.”

Peacocks is the latest retail chain to be hit by the recession. Last week it was bought by Edinburgh Woollen Mill which bought 388 out of 612 Peacocks stores and concessions from administrator KPMG.

There are no other stores in Wirral which means the nearest Peacocks store is in Bootle.

A spokesperson for the administrators KPMG said that those made redundant will be paid up to the end of the month rather than the date of redundancy.

He added: “A KPMG staff member was onsite at each closed store on the day and worked with the managers to communicate with staff. We have been in touch with Job Centre Plus who have provided us with a letter and helpline number for staff.

‘‘This was circulated to the store managers via the internal online communications system on Wednesday and included with the redundancy letters. Redundant staff have also been given a contact name and number at the Peacocks HR department, in order to assist with any queries they may have.”