Businesswoman offers help for out-of-work BHS staff

A South Tyneside businesswoman is offering a helping hand to BHS workers who have been made redundant.

BHS in South Shields, officially closed its doors on Saturday after the firm went into administration in April with debts of more than £1.3 billion - including a pension fund deficit of £571 million.

Jayne Hart, who runs HR Dept at the Quadrus Centre in Boldon, says she wants to help staff get back into employment.

She said: “It’s absolutely awful what’s happened.

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“I want to help them by making sure they have up to date CVs, I’ll show them the best channels to use in their job hunt and help with their interview techniques.

“These are employees who have a lot of transferable skills, especially in sales and customers service.”

Also offering services is Julie Skevington who runs Sincero - a business growth and funding solutions company. Jayne said: “Julie knows first hand at what it’s like to unexpectedly become redundant, A few years ago she would never have dreamed she’d be now running her own business after it happened to her.

“We want to give these workers a bit of a confidence boost and show them that they will get new jobs.”

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Criticism over the handling of the firm in recent years has been directed towards former owner Sir Philip Green who sold the retail chain for £1, last year, to Dominic Chappell.

A three-month inquiry was carried out by MPs. The report by the Business, Innovation and Skills and Work and Pensions committees found Sir Philip, MrChappell and their respective directors, advisers and hangers-on as “culpable” for the collapse.

To get in contact with Jayne or Julie email [email protected].