LEP statement on proposed closure of John Lewis store Tamworth

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP chairman Alun Rogers said:

This is a huge blow to all employees working at the store and to the town. John Lewis is one of the flagship stores at Ventura Park and has been a real pull for visitors and boosted the local economy. All sectors have been hit hard by this pandemic, but retail and leisure have particularly suffered.

Our priority at the LEP is to ensure those employees affected have all the support they need in finding alternative employment as quickly as possible. Last month we set up our Countywide Redundancy Task Group which is made up of 21 organisations which together have put in place a number of support services and is ready to act whenever there is an announcement like today’s.

These services provided in a timely manner will help to redeploy, retrain, reskill, and signpost people to new employment opportunities ensuring support is available to those affected and their families.”