Business

Dixons to save 800 Phones 4u posts

SOME of the 5,600 Phones 4u jobs in peril following the retailer's collapse have been saved after Dixons Carphone offered to take on 800 posts.

The staff work at 160 Phones 4u concessions within Currys/PC World stores, which recently became part of Dixons Carphone.

It is thought the offer could benefit 21 staff in Northern Ireland who had worked at Phones 4u's four Dixons Carphone concessions in the north.

Phones 4u's collapse into administration has put a total of 5,596 jobs at risk but there were reports yesterday that network operators Vodafone and EE are in talks to buy parts of the business, which has 560 standalone outlets.

Prior to its merger with Carphone Warehouse, Dixons had an existing agreement with rival Phones 4u to run mobile concessions in 160 Currys/PC World megastores until next May.

Dixons Carphone has also encouraged Phones 4u staff to apply for other jobs within the group.

The company has recently begun rolling out Currys and PC World stores with Carphone Warehouse concessions, allowing customers to buy products ranging from a toaster to the latest smart-phone under one roof.

A corporate restructuring team from PwC is in talks with parties who may be interested in acquiring all or part of the business. The stores have remained closed while those talks take place.

It said on Monday it was hopeful that it would be able to pay all the outstanding wage arrears but that this was dependent on accessing funds to pay for the costs of the business.