Lingfield College Business

  Ashley Armstrong ,  retail editor   11 FEBRUARY 2017 • 7:45PM Hundreds of jobs at risk as Clinton Cards considers mass store closures S tationery chain Clinton Cards is considering shutting swathes of high street stores, raising fears for hundreds of jobs.  It is understood that the chain’s US owner could bring down the shutter on around 120 shops, equivalent to around a quarter of its UK estate.  American Greetings has admitted that 120 out of 393 shops are yet to be modernised and as a result, these shops were “subject to an ongoing strategic review”. It has also halted its store refurbishment programme, pumping in just £1m last year compared to £14m in 2015.  Property agents at Knight Frank have been mandated to review the firm’s stores and denied that there would be a wave of store closures.  It follows moves by American fashion giant Gap to put its UK stores under review after closing all its British Banana Republic shop...

Pimlico Plumber worker should be paid sick pay, court rules in landmark gig economy case Court of appeals says Pimlico Plumbers gig workers entitled to full employment status    CREDIT:  PA   Cara McGoogan   10 FEBRUARY 2017 • 12:00PM R Rules for companies that employ workers in the gig economy could change after a Court of Appeal ruled against Pimlico Plumbers in a landmark case.  The Court ruled that Pimlico Plumbers' self-employed contractors in fact qualify as workers, meaning they are entitled to employment rights such as sick pay, minimum wage and paid holiday.  Gary Smith, a former employee of the London plumbing company, brought the case, claiming that he should have been entitled to basic employment rights. Mr Smith sued the company after he was dismissed following a heart attack. He said his status was more akin to an employee than contractor and that he should have received benefits such as sick...