Poundland on the brink of administration as retail digests the Autumn Budget
Poundland's future and the Budget's business rates changes lead the day, alongside new warehouse jobs at M&S and several store openings.
In brief
- Poundland is on the brink of administration, putting 11,000 jobs at risk.
- The Budget raised the small business rate relief threshold in England and Wales, which the ACS hailed as a major win for local shops.
- M&S has opened over 70 vacancies at its new fully automated fashion distribution centre in Lichfield, set to open next year.
- The Fed has reacted to a reported increase in the National Living Wage, albeit at a slightly slower rate of increase.
- TFG London, owner of Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight, has contacted customers after personal data was accessed in a cyber attack.
Jobs and people
The UK government is investigating whether Poundland owner Gordon Brothers is needlessly driving the discount chain into administration1. Reports differ on the number of jobs involved. Talking Retail puts it at 11,0002 and Retail Insight Network at 12,0001.
The Lichfield roles are the first wave of jobs at the new M&S site.
Superdry has promoted Matt Brewster to Commercial Director. He was previously Global Partnerships & Wholesale Director.
A new national campaign, Commit to Youth, is urging retailers to create more opportunities for young people to enter the industry1. Halfords has also teamed up with Pets at Home on a colleague partnership2.
Stores and openings
M&S has received planning approval for a new food hall in Northwich, marking a return to the Cheshire town1. Lindt is set to open its third store in Scotland on Glasgow's Buchanan Street. It will be its 31st UK store and will span 2,152 sq ft2.
Superdrug is reopening its refurbished Watford store on 29th October1, and Rituals has opened a new store at The Square in Camberley, Surrey2. Hunter is opening a giant boot box pop-up store in Covent Garden's East Piazza for November3.
DPD has opened a new 63,000 sq ft distribution centre at Forrest Park, near Darlington1. It is expanding its network ahead of an expected record Black Friday and Christmas2.
Money and results
Business rates relief and lower energy and fuel costs offer some respite for retailers, but rising wages and continued cost pressures remain1. Supermarkets face a mixed picture, with lower fuel and food import costs offering some relief while rising wages continue to put on pressure2. The Chancellor said the changes would mean "half of our shops pay no business rates at all"3. Retail NI has called for business rates action in Northern Ireland and Scotland4.
Before the Budget, shop price inflation hit 2.1% in October, the highest since February 20241. An Opinium poll found 83% of Brits concerned about rising food prices and 82% about inflation2.
OurCoop held trading profit at £4.5m in the first half of its financial year1. Separately, UK shoplifting fell by 2% in the year to June 2026, while retailers are demanding action on delayed laws to tackle retail crime2.
Our take
If you work at Poundland, keep a close eye on official updates and, if you are a member, your union. For anyone looking to move, distribution is hiring. M&S is recruiting at Lichfield, and TRAP has 596 live M&S jobs today out of 19,411 in total. The busy run-up to Christmas is a good time to check what is open near you.
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