John Lewis is reportedly planning major restructuring moves, which could see shops axed from the high street and result in the loss of hundreds of jobs.
The UK’s oldest department store is said to be in talks with landlords over potential store closures and the possibility of job losses after facing struggles amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Sharon White, Chair at John Lewis, is believed to have have penned a letter to staff and partners this week.
In the letter, as seen and reported by the Evening Standard, Ms White reportedly told staff members: “The difficult reality is that we have too much store space for the way people want to shop now. As difficult as it is, we now know that it is highly unlikely that we will reopen all our John Lewis stores.”
“Regrettably, it is likely that there will implications for some Partners’ jobs.”
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“We are in active discussions with landlords about ending some leases and renegotiating others to make the terms more flexible.”
There are currently 20 John Lewis open to the public since non-essential retailers were given the green light by the UK government to begin trading again from 15th June and plans to open a further 10 stores on 13th July were announced today.
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This includes the Trafford Centre store.
Peter Turner / Geograph
Speaking on behalf of the retailer regarding the announcement of store reopenings, Bérangère Michel at John Lewis, said: “I am really pleased to announce more shop openings in the next couple of weeks, and in particular our first to reopen in Wales and Scotland.”
“We continue to stick to our safe, not fast approach.”
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“We are learning as we go and tweaking our approach to give our customers and Partners the best possible experience.”
Back in March, John Lewis revealed that its annual profits had slumped 23% to £123m and it slashed its annual bonus to 2% of salary.
Sharon White, Chair at John Lewis, stated at the time: “The pandemic has led to profound shifts in the way we all live and shop, even our sense of self. While this coming period of transformation will sadly mean the end of some Partnership stories, we have to change for the future of the Partnership.”
“We have to resize the business – facing into and not shying away from difficult decisions – and seize the opportunities to regrow.”
“The prize is a sustainable Partnership that is still thriving in 100 years.”
For more information ahead of store reopenings, visit the John Lewis website here.
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
The Manc -
1st July 2020 
