Asda is considering outsourcing the delivery of online orders for its George clothing brand, potentially putting approximately 1,200 jobs at risk. The supermarket giant is looking to shift its George.com distribution to DHL starting in January 2027. Presently, Asda manages the online operations for George from warehouses in Lymedale, Staffordshire, Brackmills, Northamptonshire, and Washington, Tyne and Wear. The proposed transition would relocate operations to the DHL facility in Derby, while ensuring that affected staff have the option to transfer to DHL. Asda reassured that its distribution sites for in-store George purchases will remain operational, and employees working in distribution for other sections at those sites will not be impacted.
David Lepley, Asda’s chief supply chain officer, explained that the proposal is designed to support the growth of George.com and aims to make George the UK’s leading clothing retailer by volume. The transition is scheduled to commence in January 2027 and conclude later that year, with affected colleagues transferring under TUPE regulations to safeguard their current pay, pension, and length of service.
In other news, the latest data reveals a 2.5% increase in annual house price growth in November, rising from 1.9% in October, with the average UK house price reaching £271,000. Additionally, average monthly private rents across the UK rose by 4% to £1,368 in the year to December, showing a slight slowdown from the previous month’s 4.4% increase. Despite the rise in inflation, the Bank of England refrained from a rate cut, yet mortgage borrowers can still benefit from cheaper deals, as the average two-year fixed mortgage rate decreased to 4.77%. The average five-year fixed mortgage rate remained stable at 4.87%, and the number of available mortgage deals increased slightly to 7,306.
Consumer advocate Martin Lewis advised 14 million mobile customers who are out of contract to explore better deals to avoid potential financial losses. Lewis cautioned against remaining with the same provider post-contract expiration, emphasizing the importance of seeking competitive offers. Furthermore, he highlighted a savings product offering a noteworthy 4.55% interest rate, describing it as an exceptional opportunity in the current financial landscape. UK inflation surged to 3.4% in December, attributed mainly to higher tobacco and airfare prices, marking the first increase in the headline rate in six months.