A statement from Cllr James Naish, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council on the emerging situation at Wilko.
“Like many local employees and residents, Bassetlaw District Council is concerned to hear today’s announcement from Wilkos. Wilkos has historically been at the epicentre of retail business in Bassetlaw, and we are proud of its long and established history of serving the high street. It is a great family-orientated business which puts people and customers at the heart of its operations.
“As a Council, we stand to support anxious employees wherever we can. We are in active dialogue with the GMB trade union and have written to the Chief Executive of Wilkos, seeking an urgent meeting, while putting the Council's teams on standby to help as required.
“We support finding a buyer as quickly as possible to ensure that high streets, near and far, remain vibrant places to shop, work and socialise. Bassetlaw is a great place to do business with significant inward investment planned over the next two decades, and Bassetlaw District Council will actively welcome discussions with any party considering supporting this much-loved brand.”
Letter to Mark Jackson, Chief Executive of Wilko
Date: 3 August 2023
Dear Mark
Like many local employees and Bassetlaw residents, Bassetlaw District Council is concerned to hear today’s announcement from Wilkos. Wilkos has historically been at the epicentre of retail business in Bassetlaw, and we are proud of its long and established history of serving the high street, as we know you are. It is a great family-orientated business which puts people and customers at the heart of its operations.
We are deeply concerned about the potential impact on existing Wilkos staff, many of whom will be anxious following today’s news.
As a Council, we stand with you at this difficult hour and our staff are at your disposal to use as required to try and identify a buyer as quickly as possible to ensure that high streets, near and far, remain vibrant places to shop, work and socialise.
To that end, we would like to request an urgent meeting on Monday morning so that our teams can be fully briefed of the situation and we can prepare to support you, Wilkos employees, trade unions and others in the critical days that lie ahead.
We look forward to hearing from you and wish you and Wilkos every success in the meantime.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr James Naish, Leader
Cllr Jo White, Leader Deputy Leader
Last Updated on Wednesday, May 8, 2024