Shop Direct’s transfer of returns activity to save 200 jobs
Shop Direct, the owner of Very.co.uk, is to transfer its 215,000 square foot Oldham returns centre to Clipper Logistics.
In a statement, Shop Direct said the deal is likely to save up to 200 jobs as well as the Raven Mill site itself, which had been due to close in 2021 following the migration of Shop Direct’s returns activity to a new automated centre at East Midlands Gateway near Castle Donington in Leicestershire.
All 403 Shop Direct team members at Raven Mill will transfer to Clipper Logistics under TUPE.
The move will see Clipper Logistics operating Shop Direct’s returns activity at the site until it migrates to the East Midlands in 2021. Following this, Clipper Logistics is intending to retain up to 200 Raven Mill staff for separate ongoing operational activity at the site for its other retail clients.
However, at least 200 Raven Mill based staff are still expected to be made redundant following the 2021 migration with redundancies likely to be achieved on a voluntary basis.
As part of a five-year agreement, Clipper Logistics will also manage some specialist returns and pre-retail activity for Shop Direct from 2021 from its site in Swadlincote in Derbyshire.
Phil Hackney, group operations director at Shop Direct, said: “We’re pleased to have come to an agreement with Clipper Logistics that has the potential to safeguard jobs in the area, with Raven Mill likely to operate as a commercial site beyond 2021. We believe it’s a positive move for our colleagues and the community. We’ll work closely with Clipper Logistics, our trade union Usdaw and colleague representatives to ensure the transfer is as smooth as possible.”
