Marks & Spencer is to cut almost 1,000 jobs as it reshapes operations through the ‘Never the Same Again’ programme unveiled as the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Marks & Spencer said the changes would “create a new retail management structure that is fit for the future – removing role duplication, providing clearer leadership accountabilities and freeing up retail teams to focus more on the customer”.

The 950 job losses, which were first reported by Sky News, will be felt across “central support functions in field and central operations and property and store management”.

A collective consultation has started through the retailer’s employee representative group. M&S said it intends to first offer voluntary redundancy to the people affected.

M&S director of retail, operations and property Sacha Berendji said: “Our proposals reflect an important next step in our Never the Same Again programme to accelerate our transformation and become a stronger, leaner and more resilient business.

“Through the crisis, we have seen how we can work faster and more flexibly by empowering store teams and it’s essential that we embed that way of working.”

The job losses add to a growing toll in retail caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Already battling before the outbreak to adjust to a shifting trading landscape, retailers have had to take radical action faster in the aftermath of lockdown when online shopping rose, many shops were shut and footfall remains low.

At John Lewis, 1,300 jobs are threatened as some stores will never reopen. Another 4,000 roles will be lost at Boots. At the weekend, it was reported that Ted Baker will cut 500 jobs – a quarter of its workforce.

Read more: Deep dive - Can M&S become the nation’s favourite shop again?

Marks & Spencer has gone from turnaround plan to turnaround plan since the turn of the millennium, but time is starting to run out. As Britain’s favourite retailer loses relevance to today’s shoppers, Retail Week asks: can M&S be saved?

Topics