B&Q scales down head office

B&Q, the DIY chain belonging to the British Kingfisher Group, has announced the loss of 220 jobs at its headquarters in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The company stated that it is making changes to its organisational structure in order to “create a more customer-focused, agile, omni-channel retailer” and “ensure that B&Q is building sustainable jobs for the future and planning for growth”. The restructuring is designed to include “new and different roles” and “changes to ways of working” at the head office, which currently employs a total of 1 200 people. The company confirms that 100 new roles have been created, but there will still be a loss of 220 jobs. Those affected by the changes will be offered enhanced redundancy packages. B&Q emphasises that the restructuring had been planned for some time and that the redundancies are not in reaction to the recent 24 per cent decline in retail profits.