E-commerce firm to create 5,000 new jobs

Manchester headquartered e-commerce firm, Boohoo, is set to create 5,000 new jobs over the next five years as it begins a £500 million programme of investment.

The business, established in Manchester in 2006, has grown to become one of the world’s largest online fashion retailers, now encompassing 13 brands, with 50% of its sales now coming from overseas. The firm now plans to invest heavily to better meet growing demand, both in the UK and overseas, with 5,000 new jobs expected to be created including in the North-west at its international distribution centre in Burnley, and Manchester city centre head office. Boohoo already employs over 3,200 people in the North-west.

Boohoo CEO John Lyttle commented:

The growth this business has experienced over the last 15 years has been phenomenal. It has not been without its challenges, but it is right to celebrate the significant contributions the company makes to the towns and communities where we operate. The investments we have planned will help us to continue our growth, increasing our customer base both at home and abroad, adding even more value as we do so.

“All of this has only been possible because of the amazing people who form our boohoo family. I am so proud of the way they rise to every challenge and I look forward to growing together as we cement our position as leaders in global fashion e-commerce.”

While the group has recently come under fire for practices within its UK and overseas supply chain, and criticism more widely of the environment costs of the so-called fast-fashion sector, an Economic Impact Assessment prepared by Boohoo has found its operations have added almost £2 billion to the UK economy since 2009, largely in the North West, and for every job it directly creates, a further 1.7 are added in the wider economy. The firm’s annual Gross Value Added of £559 million is equivalent to almost 5% of the UK’s clothing and footwear retail industry.