Shock waves from BHS failure could hit hundreds more jobs

Hundreds more jobs are in jeopardy on top of the 11,000 BHS roles already at risk, it has emerged, as businesses assessed the damage of the failure to find a buyer.

Administrator Duff & Phelps yesterday revealed the chain would be wound down.

The jobs of 8000 members of staff are likely to go and a further 3000 jobs of non-BHS employees who work in the stores may also be at risk.

But even more could go as part of the knock-on effect to suppliers.

Trade union Unite said it was seeking assurances about the future employment prospects for 60 drivers and about 300 warehouse workers at DHL Supply Chain which provide logistics for the 163-store high street chain.

Evelthon Vassiliou, the boss of BHS clothing supplier Alison Hayes, said: “It’s a sad day both for BHS employees and also for many of the suppliers that were supporting the business. I do worry that many unsecured suppliers will be impacted by this. Some will be able to weather the storm. But some will not.”

Compass, which provides catering and cleaning to BHS, said it was trying to find jobs for affected employees.

The liquidation decision comes five weeks after the business collapsed into administration with a pension deficit of £571 million.

It was hoped a buyer could be found, but a string of retailers walked away after seeing how much would be needed to revive the loss-making retailer, estimated at more than £100 million.