Countrywide has confirmed it is closing 59 branches outside London.
It has not, however, quantified the number of closures in London nor elaborated on its previous statement that “organisational changes involving branch consolidations, rebrands and closures” in London will affect only a “small” number of branches.
There is also a discrepancy between the number of confirmed closures outside London at 59 and the number on a leaked list – 61.
The number of likely job losses at the UK’s biggest agent also remains unknown, but property recruitment agencies at the weekend made known their interest in candidates, suggesting that while Countrywide is cutting back, other firms are still recruiting.
In an official statement, Countrywide said it would avoid redundancies where possible.
A spokesperson said: “Following consultation with colleagues, we have made the decision to close 59 branches within the retail arm of our business.
“This is part of our ongoing ‘Building our Future’ strategy, focused on having the right people in the right places to meet our customers’ needs.
“This programme to rationalise our portfolio of branches will move us to stronger positions in these markets while providing a platform for sustainable and organic growth during the rest of 2016 and beyond.
“Over the coming weeks we will be entering into discussions with affected colleagues and are committed to working responsibly to avoid redundancies where possible.
“It is our intention to make these changes smoothly, with minimal disruption to our customers.”
Countrywide did not respond to our request to confirm whether the following list of closures is correct. As pointed out, it does not quite tally with the 59 branches Countrywide says it is closing.
South Coast:
Palmer Snell in Lyme Regis.
Yorkshire:
Bridgfords in Bingley and Ripon.
Manchester and Lancashire:
Bridgfords in Hale and Bramhall.
South Central:
Mann in Bitterne, Cosham, Godalming, Haslemere and Hythe;
Gascoigne-Pees in Grayshott;
Watson Bull & Porter in Shanklin.
South East:
Geering & Collyer in Canterbury and Folkestone;
King & Chasemore in Eastbourne, Lancing and Littlehampton;
Freeman Forman in Mayfield.
Midlands North:
Ian Peat in Bingham;
Bairstow Eves in Derby;
R A Bennett in Solihull;
Dixons in Tamworth.
South West:
Stratton Creber in Mawnan Smith;
Fulfords in Shaldon, Topsham and Torquay.
Wales and West:
Entwistle Green in Crewe, Frodsham and Prenton;
Beresford Adams in Denbigh and Flint.
Midlands East:
Abbotts in Billericay, Clacton, Dedham, Felixstowe, Haverhill, Leigh-on-Sea, Sudbury, Wickford and Witham;
Bairstow Eves in Halstead, Ipswich, Leigh-On-Sea and Tiptree.
Midlands Central:
Taylors in Kettering and Olney;
Wilson Peacock in Newport Pagnell.
Scotland and NE:
Countrywide in Ayr.
Midlands West:
R A Bennett in Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden, Cirencester, Stow-On-The-Wold, Thornbury, Wootton-Under-Edge and Yate;
Taylors in Churchdown, Evesham, Portishead, Shirehampton, Swindon West and Warndon.
I sincerely hope the staff in the branches listed were aware before this was published…….
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Pretty sure they did.
I work near a closing branch and I found out a few days ago from the man behind the counter in our local coffee shop.
I put it down to gossip at first but then it was announced.
The only way he could have known for real is that one of the staff mentioned it.
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Well said surreyagent. This is just awful for all involved.
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Knowing Countrywide probably wouldn’t occur to them that their hardworking staff would need to know that information.
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If there is any silver lining, it’s that plenty of qualified, motivated and experienced staff will become available for immediate reintroduction into the sector under a brand that won’t throw them under the bus!
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They were informed. I have some good friends at CW and they were told weeks ago about this information.
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How many will move to the other side and work for companies like PB ?
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Lets hope that they do not become that desperate and will be snapped up by decent companies.
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You gotta love pure salespeople. RUTHLESS
I have just read this story to my staff… I was looking for some reaction about our poor countrywide colleagues next door.
“So does that mean there will be more parking at the back?” was the main comment.
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Every silver lining has a cloud…
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Many have already found alternative employment or have offers lined up awaiting news of any redundancy package.
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they have also closed Gascoigne-Pees in Dorking surrey, they are closing the 2 Mann branches in Guildford along with 2 of the 3 Gascoigne-Pees in the town
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