Homebase jobs saved as closures miss NI

Homebase employees in Northern Ireland have escaped losing their jobs after the company revealed their plans to close stores across the UK and Ireland.

However, two Dublin stores in Fonthill and Naas Road and one in Limerick are listed to close.

The latest restructuring comes on top of the retailer's closure programme that has been carrying out since February.

A total of 17 Homebase stores have been shut this year and the business has also axed 303 jobs at its head office in Milton Keynes.

Homebase History

The Homebase closures follow the sale of the business to Hilco earlier this year for £1.

It's previous Australian owner, Wesfarmers, bought the store in 2016 for £340 million.

Wesfarmers is known for its Bunnings chain in Australia, and attempted to import the home improvement brand to the UK by converting a host of Homebase stores into the Bunnings format.

However, the strategy ended in disaster.

Prior to the Hilco takeover, Homebase had 250 stores at its peak and 12,000 staff.