Shop Direct protects 200 jobs with Raven Mill deal

Shop Direct has transferred its returns activity at its Raven Mill site over to logistics company Clipper Logistics in a move which will see 200 jobs safeguarded.

The logistics firm will operate on behalf of Shop Direct at the 215,000 square foot site near Oldham, Lancashire. Clipper Logistics will operate at the site until 2021, when work will be transferred over to the retailer’s new East Midlands fulfilment centre.

All 403 employees based at the Raven Mill site will be moved over to Clipper Logistics through ‘transfer of undertakings: protection of employment rules’ (TUPE). While the logistics firm has said that it will retain at least 200 members of staff, reports by Drapers suggest that it will also look to make at least 200 employees redundant. Shop direct says any redundancies will be on a voluntary basis.

As part of a five year agreement, Clipper Logistics will also manage some specialist returns and pre-retail activity for Shop Direct from its Swadlincote site in Derbyshire.

Phil Hackney, group operations director at Shop Direct, said: “We’re pleased to have come to an agreement with Clipper Logistics that has the potential to safeguard jobs in the area, with Raven Mill likely to operate as a commercial site beyond 2021. We believe it’s a positive move for our colleagues and the community. We’ll work closely with Clipper Logistics, our trade union Usdaw and colleague representatives to ensure the transfer is as smooth as possible.

“Our priority continues to be working in partnership with the joint taskforce to give affected colleagues across all our Greater Manchester fulfilment sites the training, development and other types of support they need to help them prepare for the future.”