DOZENS of jobs at the Ayr BHS branch are set to tumble as the company yesterday announced they are to file for administration.
BHS is a big name for Ayr Town Centre and is one of the 16 stores throughout Scotland that's affected.
John Hannett, general secretary of retail trade union Usdaw, said: “This is devastating news for the employees of BHS and we urge the company to change their attitude to trade unions and begin a dialogue with us at this difficult and worrying time.
“We also urge the administrators and the company to comply with the law, consult with staff and Usdaw as the union for BHS workers. We don’t want to see BHS staff locked out of discussions, sent to the back of the queue of creditors and treated like fixtures and fittings, as happened at Woolworth’s.
“The Government needs to intervene now to protect taxpayers from picking up the bill for redundancy payments and safeguard the Pension Protection Fund.
“We are in touch with our members working in BHS to reassure them that we will provide the support, advice and representation they require.”
A total of 11,000 jobs are under threat in Scotland.
Speaking to local BHS shoppers in the shops restaurant, they said: "I cant believe it, we always go into BHS, it's different and unique, it has lot's of things you cant get anywhere else.
"It will be very sad if the company closes."
When we briefly spoke to a staff member they commented that they knew this was going to happen and have been told it's business as normal at the moment.
In a letter to staff, BHS owner Dominic Chappell said: “It is with a deep heart that I have to report, despite a massive effort from the team, we have been unable to secure a funder or a trade sale.”
The government said they will step in and help staff get into new jobs as quickly as possible if the bosses cannot find a successful deal with a buyer.
Are you a staff member at the Ayr High Street store and would like to get in touch regarding the administration? Email - contact@ayrshiredailynews.co.uk
Ayrshire Daily News have contacted BHS Ayr for comment and are awaiting a response.