Comet to cut 450 jobs
OpCapita, the new owner of the Comet, is to axe around 450 jobs at the electrical chain as part of a plan to reduce investment in its UK-wide repair service.
The company is to hold a three-month consultation on the exact nature of the cuts but said they would result in job losses for engineers across the UK as well as support roles at Comet’s Clevedon site near Bristol.
Comet CEO Bob Darke commented: “The proposal to reduce our staff numbers has been a very tough decision to make but significant savings are required to secure the long-term viability of our business. This in no way reflects the commitment and efforts of our employees.
“Our first priorities are to reach a speedy decision and support those who may be affected by our proposal and we will make every effort to help them find alternative employment.”
OpCapita officially took ownership of Comet last week, after agreeing to buy the 249 store chain for just £2 from Kesa which provided a dowry of £50 million to rid itself of the loss-making business.