More than a million retail jobs are said to be on the line as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the high street. Businesses are starting to rethink their headcounts after months of closures and amid billions of pounds worth of redundant stock.
It comes as the Prime Minister announced thousands of chains will be able to reopen again on June 15. Oasis and Warehouse have been the top casualties, admitting their financial woes had been accelerated by the economic shutdown last month.
Debenhams, which has been in administration twice this year, has also closed all branches in Ireland permanently. According to the Centre for Retail Research, as many as 20,000 shops could close this year as a result of the pandemic.