St Nicholas Hospice Care in Bury St Edmunds makes eight staff redundant as part of retail restructuring

A hospice made eight of its staff redundant as part of a restructuring of its retail operations.

St Nicholas Hospice Care, based in Bury St Edmunds, made the decision as part of a ‘broader strategy’ to ensure the long-term sustainability of the charity’s services across West Suffolk and Thetford.

As part of a review of its retail model, completed with the support of an independent charity retail expert, 16 roles were initially identified as at risk of redundancy, which was reduced to 13 during consultation.

As well as the redundancies and part of the reshaping, the hospice’s Barton Road outlet in Bury will be developed into a superstore, and a collection and delivery service will be offered for larger goods, including furniture.

Linda McEnhill, St Nicholas Hospice Care’s CEO, said: “This has been a difficult but essential process, and all the decisions taken were not easy ones.

“We extend our deepest thanks to the eight colleagues whose roles have been affected. Their contributions have been greatly valued, and we wish them all the very best for the future.”

Ms McEnhill said while some roles have been changed in the review, all of its shops remain open.

It is hoped, by focusing the charity’s resources where they can have the most impact, it will protect the future of its care for the community.

“Our shops remain a vital part of that mission, and every supporter who donates, shops, or volunteers continues to make a real difference,” Linda added.

The hospice has had to navigate increased costs and changing market conditions in recent months and years. In response, its retail approach has been simplified.

This includes a more cost-effective approach allowing shops to run more independently and reducing their reliance on central infrastructure.

The charity has ended house clearances, which it said were costly, and the sale of new goods has been scaled back to concentrate on high-performing activities.

All of the individuals made redundant were offered personalised support through the consultation process.