Fife Carphone Warehouse stores to close

Dixons Carphone has announced plans to shut all 531 of its standalone Carphone Warehouse mobile phone stores across the country, including stores in Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, St Andrews and Dunfermline.

The group said the shops will shut on April 3 as it plans to sell mobile phones solely in its 305 combined Currys PC World stores and online across the UK.

Branches of Carphone Warehouse within the Currys PC World stores in Kirkcaldy’s Fife Central Retail Park and at Halbeath Retail Park in Dunfermline will not be affected.

The firm says the move is not related to the coronavirus outbreak, but was because of the changing mobile market.

As a result of the decision, the group expects to make 2900 redundancies and almost 1800 affected staff are set to take new roles elsewhere in the business.

The company said the move is “essential” to help turn around its UK mobile arm.

Alex Baldock, Carphone Warehouse group chief executive, said customers are increasingly buying from online and from its big stores which sell computers and TVs as well as mobiles.

He added: “There's never an easy time for an announcement like this, but the turbulent times ahead only underline the importance of acting now.

"We're working hard to look after those colleagues we can't find new roles for, financially and otherwise.

"We'll pay enhanced redundancy, any bonuses, honour their share awards, and help them find new jobs through an outplacement programme."