Online fashion retail giant Boohoo has announced it will create thousands of jobs in the North West over the next five years.
The Manchester-based company – which is known for its celebrity endorsements, and has enjoyed booming sales throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – said the new positions will come from an investment programme of £500 million to meet growing demand.
Around 5,000 jobs are expected to be created at both its head office in the Northern Quarter, and warehouse in Burnley.
The company said its plans for the future also include the purchase of additional warehouse space, and new technology to help its operations become more efficient.
Boohoo has published a report into the economic impact of the business on the UK economy.
According to the report, Boohoo found that in the last year, it added £559.4 million to the UK economy – including more than 8,000 full-time jobs – and the business now accounts for 4.4% of the total UK clothing and footwear retail sector.
The new positions will come from an investment programme of £500 million / Credit: Boohoo Group plc
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Boohoo notably snapped up the Debenhams brand to turn it into an online-only company in the wake of the chain’s demise from the high street.
It also took over the Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton names from the failed Arcadia empire.
Boohoo’s growth and plans for the future come after a well-documented difficult two years for the company when it was revealed that some of its suppliers in Leicester had been operating in sweatshop conditions, being paid as little £3.50 per hour.
The company responded by cutting ties with hundreds of suppliers under an ‘Agenda for Change’ programme.
Around 5,000 jobs are to be created at both its head office in Manchester and warehouse in Burnley / Credit: Boohoo Careers
Sustainability has also become a key talking point in the sector and something Boohoo CEO John Lyttle yesterday told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Wake Up To Money podcast that the company is keen to focus on going forward – with shoppers opting to keep items of clothing for longer and move away from so-called “throwaway fashion”.
The success of the Boohoo brand and its vision for the future is said to be partly down to targeting under-30s who follow social media influencers and prefer to buy clothes online and on their phones.
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Bob Vylan dropped from Manchester music festival following Glastonbury controversy
Danny Jones
English punk rap duo Bob Vylan have been dropped from an upcoming music festival in Manchester following the recent controversy surrounding their set at Glastonbury 2025.
The media storm surrounding their much-talked-about and heavily televised Glasto appearance has seen them reportedly dropped by their agency and their US Visas cancelled, along with multiple concerts – one of those being right here in Greater Manchester.
Bob Vylan were scheduled to play RADAR Fest at Victoria Warehouse in Stretford this weekend, but now the organisers have informed gig-goers that the artists will not be performing in their planned slot on Saturday.
The alternative music event did provide any additional details, posting nothing but this image:
For anyone unaware, Vylan were heavily criticised for the pro-Palestine chants, which Glastonbury itself has deemed as having “crossed a line”, labelling the chants against the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as antisemitic.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also commented on the situation.
In addition to RADAR, Vylan were also due to appear at Kave Fest in France the following Sunday, 6 July, but the music event has also decided not to host them.
The BBC also opted not to broadcast Northern Irish band Kneecap as part of their coverage this year, as the Belfast rap trio have also been outspoken on the issue, among many other musicians of late.
Responding to the decision on social media not long after the news broke, the act simply shared the post on their Instagram story along with the caption: “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester, we will be back.”
Trafford Centre launches school uniform drive to help disadvantaged Manchester families
Emily Sergeant
A school uniform drive has been launched at the Trafford Centre to support local families ahead of the new school year.
With schools across Greater Manchester soon set to be out for the summer holidays, many parents, guardians, and carers in the region may be looking ahead to the new school year in September, concerned about how they may be able to provide their children with the necessary uniform items needed.
According to a 2020 survey by The Children’s Society, 23% of parents reported that the cost of school uniforms led to their children wearing ‘ill-fitting, unclean, or incorrect’ items.
It’s these statistic that highlight the ongoing pressure faced by families.
This is why the Trafford Centre has partnered with both Manchester South Central Foodbank and local charity, Bridging the Gap, to launch a school uniform donation drive aimed at supporting more than 700 children across Manchester this summer.
The Trafford Centre launches a school uniform drive to help disadvantaged Manchester families / Credit: Trafford Centre
From now up until the 15 August, anyone heading to the region’s largest shopping centre is encouraged to donate new or pre-loved school uniforms.
“The cost of living crisis has deeply impacted our community, with more and more families unable to afford the essentials,” commented Emily Jeremy, who is the Assistant Project Manager at Manchester South Central Foodbank.
“As an anti-poverty charity, we recognised the need for school uniform support years ago. Though costs vary between schools, a full set of branded secondary school uniform can total around £150, which is a significant burden for many households.”
All items can be donated at the shopping centre’s Guest Services point / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography | Trafford Centre (Supplied)
Simon Layton, Centre Director at the Trafford Centre, added: “We’re proud to be working alongside Bridging the Gap and Manchester South Central Foodbank to support local families during these challenging times.
“School uniforms shouldn’t be a barrier to education, and we hope this initiative will ease some of the pressure many parents face as the new school year approaches.”
The school uniform donation drive is running up until 15 August.
All items can be taken to the Trafford Centre’s Guest Services Lounge, which is located on Lower Regent Crescent next to M&S, and they must be clean and free from stains or damage.
The Manc -
13th August 2021 
