Sports Direct is set to close its warehouse in Wigan, Greater Manchester in June, with up to 300 roles to be cut as a result.

The warehouse will be closed on June 13, with staff informed of the decision yesterday, according to Wigan Today.

Impacted staff who work at the warehouse, which packages Sports Direct goods for nationwide distribution, have reportedly been offered roles at the retailer’s primary distribution centre in Shirebrook.

It is understood that the upcoming warehouse closure comes as the result of a lease expiry, with one source telling The Guardian that Sports Direct had exercised the option to trigger an early exit of its 10-year lease on the property.

The closure of the warehouse, which is staffed by a combination of permanent employees and agency workers, was described by GMB regional secretary Paul McCarthy as “another body blow for the North West – caused by a company with a track record of putting profits before people”.

Wigan MP Lisa Nandy said: “This is devastating news for hundreds of workers who now face an uncertain future. I have today written to the management of Sports Direct and I am in contact with the GMB trade union.

“My immediate priority is to ensure all staff, including agency workers, receive the pay and redundancy package they are morally entitled to.”

Topics