B&Q has recently announced it will cut 200 head office jobs as part of a scheme to bring down costs at the DIY chain.

The retailer's HR director, Helena Feltham said: “The new structure will improve efficiency, simplify ways of working, and reflect recent changes in the market and the number of B&Q stores.

“We want to be the leading home improvement company and make home improvement accessible to everyone. That means delivering great quality at prices that are truly affordable. To do that, we must operate differently.”

B&Q’s parent company Kingfisher had reported a drop in third quarter sales towards the end of last year, and is in its second year of a plan to boost its annual profit by £500million by 2021.

Kingfisher chief executive Véronique Laury had said of the financial report: “We remain confident in our ability to deliver our long-term plan and in the financial and customer benefits it will generate. We recognise that the transformation plans involves a lot of change for our colleagues and appreciate their continued hard work and expertise.”

The news of B&Q’s employment cuts comes as many retailers in the DIY industry notice the loss of footfall since Brexit and the drop in sterling.

Ms Feltham concluded: “We recognise this is a difficult time for our colleagues and are supporting them in a number of ways.”