Tesco to offer jobs to workers affected by closure of Dobbies in Inverness

Tesco is to offer jobs to workers affected by the closure of a Dobbies store in Inverness.

The garden centre group announced plans this week to axe 17 stores, putting 465 jobs at risk as part of a “restructuring” of the business.

Dobbies is set to lose its site at Inshes Retail Park in Inverness, while Edinburgh’s Stockbridge will see the closure of its Little Dobbies store.

Various roles at Tesco will be made available to the dozens of employees impacted by the closure, including part-time and full-time roles, depending on preference.

Stephen Macleod, store manager at Inverness Inshes Tesco Extra, said, “We understand that anyone affected by the Dobbies announcement earlier this week will be worried, but we’re here to help.

“Across our four Tesco stores in Inverness there will be various roles available for anyone impacted by the closure.

“We recognise the valuable skills and experiences that you could bring to Tesco, and we want to play our part to help safeguard jobs in our local area.”

Dobbies said the closure would affect 465 workers, including 82 full-time roles, of the company’s roughly 3,600-strong workforce.

Dobbies will also work with landlords in order to secure temporary rent reductions at nine further stores.

The move will leave it with 60 garden centres.

The garden centre chain, which was bought by investment firm Ares Management last year, fell to a £105.2m pre-tax loss in the year to March 2023, against a £7m loss a year earlier, according to its most-recently filed company accounts.

Dobbies said: “The restructuring plan, and other strategic initiatives, are expected to return Dobbies to sustainable profitability through site rationalisations, rent reductions and other tangible cost savings, securing its long-term future and allowing access to future investment.

“Thereafter, Dobbies will operate 60 stores and continue to play a key role in the market, working constructively with stakeholders and suppliers, and having an active and committed role in the communities in which it’s based.”