Operator in discussions that would save more jobs at stricken retailer
Dixons Carphone has announced that it will be offering positions to all 800 Phones 4u staff working in Currys/PC World concessions outlets.
Mobile News also understands that EE is locked in discussions with administrators, PricewaterhouseCoopers, over a number of Phones 4u sites.
Phones 4u operated 160 store-in-stores prior to it being placed in administration by owners, BC Partners, on Monday. An agreement has been reached by Dixons Carphone with administrators to secure the positions, although it is unclear how quickly any rebrand of the concession outlets will take place.
“We can confirm that we will be offering jobs to all 800 of our Phones 4U store-in-store colleagues within Curry’s PC World stores with immediate effect,” a statement from the company said. “We are recruiting for a further 1500 vacancies across Carphone Warehouse and welcome enquiries from anyone interested in applying for these positions.”
A statement from joint administrator Rob Hunt confirmed the agreement and stressed that it does not include stock or fixtures and fittings within the stores.
The decision still means that there are more than 4,700 members of Phones 4u staff who face an uncertain future.
However, further hopes have been raised by the news that EE is in discussions with PwC over a ‘handful’ of stores.
The firm has signed an NDA with PwC and is in the process of identifying a number of stores with a view to purchasing them.
A source close to EE confirmed that all members of existing Phones 4u staff would be offered jobs with the operator as part of any deal.
Vodafone has also confirmed it had been approached by administrators, but refused to elaborate on any discussions that it was having.
Sources at Three ruled themselves out of the running for any retail outlets.