Fuller’s to axe 'at least' 10% of workforce

Speaking on BBC 5live​ this morning (1 October), Fuller's CEO Simon Emeny said that the group's London pubs, in particular, had been hit hard by a lack of city centre workers.

A significant number of Fuller’s c.400 pubs and hotels in the UK are based in the capital, and it is there that the bulk of the job cuts are likely to occur.

"We are doing everything possible to minimise that, but sadly it is inevitable," said Emeny.

“The biggest challenge we have around job losses is in central London, because the current Prime Minister’s announcement last week to discourage people from going back to the office is having a big impact on city centres and in particular Central London.”

He added that he and his management team were still working out how many staff will have to be made redundant, but 'it will be at least 10%'.

The chain employs around 5,000 staff, meaning at least 500 people are likely to be let go.

Emeny also criticised the 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants, describing it as 'illogical and 'ill-conceived'.

He was also critical of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's response to the crisis.

“I don’t think he’s had a good few months," he said of Johnson.

“There are elements of the Prime Minister’s job that I don’t envy him, but I also think there are significant elements where he has made continual mistakes and we have seen the Government do U-turns on five or six key decisions.

“In a business environment, his style of leadership wouldn’t work.”