Jobs saved at troubled clothes store

JOBS at the Rotherham branch of troubled retail chain Ethel Austin have been saved after the firm’s previous owner bought the company out of administration once again.

Elaine McPherson, who rescued the company from collapse two years ago, has snapped up 90 of the chain’s remaining stores, including the All Saints’ Square Branch, through her new company, Life & Style Retail Limited.

The move comes after administrators MCR announced 700 job cuts at Ethel Austin and sister company Au Naturale last month.

It now means that more than 1,000 jobs nationally have been saved.

Geoff Bouchier, joint administrator, said: “This is positive news for the 1,183 employees who were facing an uncertain future.

“We are pleased with the result and believe this is a suitable outcome, especially considering the tough market and the lasting financial pressures from the recession.”

At this stage, no purchaser has come forward for any of the remaining 41 stores which are scheduled to close during the next two weeks.

Over 400 staff at the distribution centre have already been made jobless, joining 65 staff at the head office.

Ethel Austin had a nationwide network of nearly 300 stores, extending from Scotland to the South West, and from Wales to the South East.

The business, which has its head office in Knowsley, Merseyside, was founded by Ethel Austin and her husband George in their Liverpool council house in 1934.