Screwfix to axe half of jobs at DIY store

Half the staff at a Black Country DIY store could be made redundant, less than a year after it opened its doors.

Six workers at Screwfix in Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, are setto lose their jobs as the company consults on redundancies. It is also set to reduce opening hours by 40 per cent.

The firm is the UK's largest direct and on-line supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products and has blamed the recession for the plans to scale back. As part of the proposed cutbacks the number of workers would fall from 12 to six.

Sunday trading will be scrapped altogether, with weekday opening reduced to 8am to 5pm from 7am to 8pm. The store will also only open for half a day on Saturday.

One worker, who has been told he will lose his job said the news came as a huge shock.

He said: "The place hasn't even been open for a year yet they are planning major cutbacks.

"The cuts are being made at all levels, from management down to shop assistants.

"The bosses have blamed the economic crisis for the lay offs.

"It is a real worry though. There just aren't any other jobs out there at the moment."

The company confirmed it is consulting on the redundancies and the reduction in opening hours today but said it was unable to comment further.

Screwfix has 130 branches across the country and has been running for more than 30 years.

It supplies tools, accessories, hardware products and building materials to the trade, delivering more 15,000 parcels per day to tradesmen and building sites across the country.

Screwfix has a major distribution depot just off the M6 at Stafford.

It has other stores across the West Midlands.

Customers select their items from a catalogue, then place their order and collect the goods.