Wolseley UK axes 84 staff

Materials giant Wolseley UK will axe 84 staff as part of broader plans to shed 6,000 jobs worldwide.

Eleven of the jobs will go from the firm’s Ripon office and 74 from its base in Leamington Spa.

The cuts are part of a review of the business that commenced following the establishment in August of three new divisions: Lightside; Heavyside, and Commerical and Industrial.

Rob Marchbank, Wolseley UK managing director and European chief executive, said: “Given the deterioration in several of our markets, including the UK, we have continued to take action to reduce duplication and make cost savings across our operations.

“The review focused on driving greater emphasis on serving the customer with empowered branches, balanced with the appropriate central support structures which the business can afford.

“I am confident that the changes, along with the recent establishment of our new divisional structure, will ensure we emerge from the current economic challenges equipped to successfully compete in our marketplaces.”

In July Wolseley announced it had shed 6,000 jobs across the world, including up to 150 in the UK and Ireland.