Doomed retailer BHS to shut down all stores by August 20

The firm’s 11,000 staff have been told they face redundancy after the administrators prepare to close all the remaining BHS shops by that date.

Duff and Phelps was appointed as the administrator in April and was trying to find a buyer for the company, which has stores in Wakefield and Leeds.

Dave Gill, national officer for the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) said: “Following the news that all remaining BHS stores will be closed by 20 August, Usdaw calls on the administrators to redouble their efforts in finding a buyer for the remaining stores and to secure as many jobs as possible.”

The closure date was announced after a damning report into the running of BHS under billionaire owner Sir Phillip Green, who runs the Arcadia group of companies.

A parliamentary inquiry found he took huge sums of money out of BHS and left its pension scheme in deficit.

Mr Gill added: “We also call on Sir Philip Green to honour the two promises he made to BHS staff as soon as possible after the company went into administration.

“Firstly, to offer employment within the Arcadia Group to the blameless, dedicated and loyal staff who suddenly find themselves unemployed. Secondly, to sort the pension scheme and we await details of what he proposes.”