Accept change, says Hampson as JLP jobs go

Employee-owned John Lewis Partnership has now culled nearly 400 posts from supply functions to become leaner and more competitive.

JLP completed a review of the department store maintenance teams last week and reorganisation will eliminate 170 more posts - on top of 230 previously announced - saving£5.5 million annually.

The raft of redundancies is generating discontent among partners, but chairman Sir Stuart Hampson said that co-ownership should not prevent change.

'It comes down to a simple choice. We could 'freeze' the Partnership as it is and refuse to accept any change which had a detrimental effect on partners. The result would be that JLP would be left behind by competitors and look outdated to customers - essentially a failing business,' he said.