BHS’s administrators have appointed property agency Savills to advise on its portfolio as they step up efforts to sell the business.

The department store chain slumped into administration last Monday, days after Retail Week revealed that the beleaguered business was on the brink of collapse.

Duff & Phelps were drafted in as administrators and are attempting to sell the retailer as a going concern.

But many analysts predict that BHS’s portfolio will be broken up into parcels of stores before the famous name disappears from the high street.

Duff & Phelps is understood to have had more than 50 expressions of interest from potential buyers as it considers options for BHS’s 164 stores.

B&M boss Simon Arora told Retail Week that there were “a number” of BHS stores it could trade from “profitably”, but would not be drawn on how many stores the value retailer was running the rule over.

Edinburgh Woollen Mill is also among retailers reported to be eyeing a clutch of the stores, but Retail Week understands Marks & Spencer is not in the running as it concentrates on rolling out its Foodhall grocery fascia.

Savills director of retail Sam Foyle said: “We are very pleased to be working with the administrators and advising on the property portfolio to assist in selling the business as a going concern.”