Dixons Carphone to cut 800 store management jobs

Dixons Carphone said it plans to cut 800 jobs as part of efforts to streamline its in-store management.

The Currys PC World owner it was "not an easy decision" but the move would allow a "flatter management structure" as it adapts to rising online sales.

It takes the tally of UK jobs put at risk this week to 3,600 after shake-up at Pizza Express and DW Sports.

Dixons Carphone had already made redundancies before lockdown, when it closed its Carphone Warehouse stores.

Dixons Carphone chief operating officer Mark Allsop said: "We'll do everything possible to look after those colleagues we can't find new roles for, financially and otherwise."

Following the closure of its 531 Carphone Warehouse shops, the company shifted mobile phone sales into its Currys PC World stores.

Dixons Carphone said streamlining management meant "there will be clearer accountability for store leaders who will work as an integrated team across the stores' electricals and mobile offerings."

In April, the company, which has about 24,000 UK staff, said strong online sales were making up for about two-thirds of the store sales lost during coronavirus lockdowns.

But Dixons Carphone said in the statement on Tuesday that it remained committed to its stores.

News of the latest cuts comes after a wave of retail redundancies. On Monday, DW Sports said up to 1,700 jobs were at risk. John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Boots and Selfridges are among other big names to announce a jobs shake-up.

The restaurant sector has also been hit hard, with Pizza Express warning on Tuesday that 1,100 jobs could go as part of a restructuring that could see 15% of outlets shut.

And the travel and tourism sector continues to suffer, with Hays saying on Monday that almost 900 jobs would go.