Outsourcer EDS has taken on the entire team of SAP specialists who previously worked for Woolworths.

The high-street retailer made 27,000 staff redundant in total after falling into administration and then shutting the last of its 800 stores on January 6th.

The seven Manchester-based IT workers have joined EDS as part of its strategy to expand its on-shore skills base for SAP applications within its consumer industries practice.

In 2007, EDS bought a majority stake in ITellium, a 700-strong company created by German retail and travel company Arcandor to separate its IT department from the rest of the company. The deal enabled EDS to sell the specialist retail technology services of ITellium across Europe.

Now EDS has taken on the SAP specialists from Woolworths, it is hoping they will be able to expand its ability to deliver to retail customers in the UK.