Mothercare calls in administrators putting 2,500 jobs at risk

File photo dated 17/05/18 of a Mothercare store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, as it has announced plans to put its UK retail business, which has 79 stores, into administration, putting hundreds of jobs at risk. PA Photo. Issue date: Monday November 4, 2019. See PA story CITY Mothercare. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Mothercare, which has 79 UK stores including Havant and Southampton, said it will file a notice of intent to appoint administrators for the UK business later on Monday.

Mothercare UK slumped to a £36.9 million loss in the financial year to March, as it has struggled amid a period of turmoil for high street retailers.

The retailer, which has around 500 full-time staff and 2,000 part-time employees, is set to follow the likes of Bonmarche, Jack Wills and Karen Millen, which have gone bust in recent months.

The global Mothercare group said it has undertaken a review of the UK business and found that it is ‘not capable of returning to a level of structural profitability’.

It said the business is therefore unable to satisfy the cash needs of the UK arm and is therefore filing the notice as part of the restructuring and refinancing process.

Mothercare added that the listed group remains profitable despite the problems facing its UK division.