SCORES of people in the North made redundant when budget supermarket chain Kwik Save closed 79 stores nationwide will be given the chance of finding work with other retailers.
About 100 people in the region lost their jobs on Wednesday when the company closed six stores in the North-East and North Yorkshire - in Castletown, Sunderland, Gateshead, Berwick Hills, in Middlesbrough, Redcar, east Cleveland, York, and Selby, North Yorkshire.
Nationwide, it is thought up to 800 people from Kwik Save's workforce of 3,300 were made redundant through the closures, which the chain said were essential to ensure the future of the business.
Now, supermarket chains Co-op and Morrisons have formed a partnership with retail union Usdaw to help unemployed workers, which will involve the companies contacting them if any vacancies open in their area.
Kwik Save was saved from the brink of insolvency in February through a £50m rescue package, but its new owners warned that cuts following the subsequent re-organisation were inevitable.
Joanne McGuinness, from Usdaw, said: "The Co-op and Morrisons have already indicated they are interested in talking to former Kwik Save staff, who are often hugely experienced and have done a magnificent job in keeping their former stores open.
"Usdaw is talking to other retailers who, we hope, will offer their support too, and although there is no guarantee that everyone will find work, we are committed to making sure every retailer knows that there is a chance to take on experienced staff who will add real value to their business."
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