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DUNELM is to hand back £14.5million it claimed under the furlough scheme after posting strong sales due to pandemic-inspired DIY and home improvements.
The homewares chain also said it would not be making any claims under the Job Retention Scheme bonus of £1,000 per employee.
Sales leapt 36 per cent to £359.1million in the three months to September 26, with online transactions accounting for 29.7 per cent of the total.
Chief executive Nick Wilkinson said: ‘Recent months have seen homewares become even more relevant, as people spend more time in their homes up and down the country.’
The company warned of ‘a number of ongoing risks and uncertainties’ but said it had seen no disruption as a result of regional restrictions.
Mr Wilkinson added: ‘The resilience and flexibility of our business model leaves us well positioned as we enter our peak trading period.’ In the past three months, Dunelm has relocated two stores in Sunderland and Clydebank, with both the new sites heated with 100 per cent renewable electricity and low-energy light bulbs throughout.
Companies have handed back more than £215million in furlough payments they did not need or took in error.
According to HMRC figures last month, 80,433 employers have returned cash they were given to help them cover workers’ salaries.
Lockdown gives birth to 315,000 new businesses
THE number of companies starting up increased by seven per cent during the national lockdown, a study finds. There were 315,000 new firms created between March and July, according to Royal Mail. It said the ‘boom’ was fuelled by e-commerce businesses as shopping moved online. Nick Landon, Royal Mail’s chief commercial officer, called the findings ‘very promising’.
Call to make it illegal for customers to abuse staff
A CAMPAIGN to protect workers who face hostility and abuse from the public has been backed by 100 organisations.
The Institute of Customer Service (ICS) is leading the drive after a survey found more than half of workers polled had faced abuse during the pandemic – and 28 per cent fear it will get worse.
Big names such as Network Rail Boots and Sky are backing the call to make it an offence.
ICS chief executive Jo Causon said: ‘It is worrying to see the level of hostility being faced by our nation’s service workers.’
LadBaby’s on a roll for Crispmas…
LADBABY looks like he has had his Christmas wish by landing a role in this year’s Walkers ad. The YouTuber, real name Mark Hoyle – known for Christmas No.1 singles such as We Built This City… On Sausage Rolls – was seen on set after challenging the crisp brand to give him the gig. PICTURE: JOE PEPLER/PINPEP
Ryanair axes one in three routes amid travel curbs
RYANAIR is to axe more than a third of its flight routes this winter, amid coronavirus travel restrictions.
The airline will run just 65 per cent of its network and shut bases in Cork and Shannon in Ireland, and Toulouse in France from November to March.
Fewer flights will run on routes that survive and the firm expects to fill 70 per cent of seats on its planes.
Chief executive Michael O’Leary said the cuts ‘have been forced upon us by government mismanagement of EU air travel’.
Staff will be asked to job-share, work reduced hours or take unpaid leave to minimise job losses, he added.
2,000 jobs to go at Marston’s
MARSTON’S will axe 2,150 furloughed workers’ jobs after curfews and tiered virus restrictions hammered trade.
The pub chain said ‘disappointing’ new virus rules ‘undermine consumer confidence and create uncertainty’. Its sales tumbled 34 per cent to £515million in the year to October 3.
