Supplementary memorandum from Jobcentre
Plus (NW 23)
Morecambe Woolworth Store (Question 65)
Full details of the redundancies at Woolworth
stores were confirmed on 19 December 2008 and all North
West stores were contacted by Jobcentre Plus staff between 22-23 December.
The redundancy announcement affected 68 retail outlets employing
2330 staff and a distribution centre employing 420 staff.
Jobcentre Plus identified a single point of
contact for all Woolworth stores across the North West, including
the Morecambe outlet which employed 21 staff. The Jobcentre
Plus Redundancy Co-ordinator contacted the Morecambe store on
23 December and obtained confirmation that the store would
close on 27 December.
The support Jobcentre Plus was able to offer
to employees was limited prior to closure as the store's priority
was to maximise sales. However, the Redundancy Co-ordinator delivered
copies of the Jobcentre Plus Job Kit which contained extensive
information on financial support and job seeking techniques. In
addition, full details on claiming welfare benefits were issued
to all employees.
The support that Jobcentre Plus was able to
deliver to Woolworths' employees varied across the North West
as it depended on the plans and priorities of individual store
managers and proposed closure dates. The available support that
we were able to deliver included, extending opening hours to deliver
benefit presentations, off-site support in partner premises, self-employment
advice, skills transfer analysis and access to skills training
support through the Rapid Response Fund.
Following the closure of the Morecambe Woolworths
store a job-matching caseload exercise was undertaken at the local
Jobcentre to refer employees to other suitable vacancies. A number
of employees subsequently obtained employment with Asda or Morrisons.
Only two employees remain unemployed at present.
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