Sunderland success story ScS creates hundreds of new jobs and gives existing staff an extra week off

The sofa and carpet specialist, which was founded in the city in 1894, says it has enjoyed “a huge increase in orders” since the initial easing of coronavirus restrictions.

It hired 150 new employees in August and currently has a similar number of vacancies for roles in various areas of the business.

A statement from the company said: “The recruitment drive is in response to a recent surge in sales, with the company reporting a 92% increase in order intake for the period from May to July 2020.

"This trend has continued in August and September, with sales up by 51% over the last six weeks.”

ScS is looking to fill a range of both permanent and fixed-term positions with vacancies in its retail stores, distribution and contact centres.

Jobs available include sales professionals, delivery drivers, meet and greet assistants, contact centre advisors and online sales team members.

While its head office is still in Sunderland’s Villiers Street, the firm now has more than 100 branches nationwide, employing more than 1,500 people, and it is unclear how many of the latest vacancies are available on Wearside.

The statement added: “In August, ScS withdrew from the government’s furlough scheme and successfully returned all of its staff to work, having topped up their wages to 100% throughout the period.

"Those who continued to work over lockdown have been rewarded with an extra seven days of holiday entitlement.”

David Knight, ScS’s chief executive officer, added: “Due to a sharp rise in orders, we are in the fortunate position of being able to add to our existing workforce.

"In the six weeks leading up to September, our like-for-like order intake grew by 51%, equivalent to £19m of additional revenue.

“We’re delighted to be able to invest some of this into new staff members, as we continue to navigate our way through these unprecedented times.”

For more information about the roles available and how to apply, visit: https://www.scsjobs.co.uk/

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