Wickes chief executive David Wood says the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, should make it easier for businesses to hire young people. Speaking as Wickes plans new store openings, Wood adds that the current cost burden of employing part-time and entry-level workers discourages recruitment.
The comments align with broader appeals from other retailers for changes that would lower costs tied to part-time and entry-level roles. While the sources focus on Wood’s message to Burnham, they do not detail specific policy proposals or timelines. Both reports frame the issue as linked to business hiring practices and workforce planning, rather than addressing other wider economic factors.
At this stage, the coverage does not include contrasting assessments from Burnham, government representatives, or employment-policy experts, nor does it provide figures on projected hiring impacts from the planned changes. The accounts therefore emphasize a shared retail-industry position: reducing hiring costs is presented as a way to increase opportunities for young workers.
