Employment minister offers support to staff at Queensferry B&Q which is set to close in January

Employment minister Edwina Hart has offered support to staff at a Deeside DIY store set to close next year.

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant wrote to Mrs Hart on behalf of the workers of B&Q’s Queensferry branch on Deeside Retail Park after parent company Kingfisher group confirmed it would be closed in 2016.

It is believed about 40 people work at the store.

Kingfisher has said it will focus on redeploying as many staff as possible within B&Q and the Kingfisher Group, which includes Screwfix.

In a letter to Carl Sargeant, the employment minister said that her officials are in contact with the company to discuss the full range of assistance available to the company and its employees.

She said that they would continue to work closely with Kingfisher to offer all the support they can and coordinate support with the Job Centre and Careers Wales.

“I’m pleased that the minister has looked into this and her department is on hand to offer assistance and support to B&Q Queensferry employees,” said Carl Sargeant.

“I hope Kingfisher will find most employees suitable work at other B&Q or Screwfix branches in the wider area. For those for whom this is not possible it is good to know that the minister will work with the Job Centre and Careers Wales to offer the support they need in finding new employment.”

Parent company Kingfisher currently operates 360 B&Q stores in the UK and Ireland however they plan to close 60 as it looks to restructure in an effort to raise more profit.