Usdaw calls for Government action to save 11,000 Poundland jobs

Trade union Usdaw has urged the Government to do all it can to save Poundland amid reports the discount retailer is on the brink of administration.

The union said 11,000 jobs hang in the balance and it has urged the Government to take robust action to save the high street retailer, which was founded in the Black Country.

Bosses at Walsall-headquartered Poundland, which has stores across the West Midlands, Shropshire and across the UK, told of their disappointment on Tuesday as a bid by their preferred bidder to take on the retail chain - Martin Property Group - was rejected.

Gordon Brothers said of the news: "While Martin Property Group had been identified as the preferred bidder by Poundland’s management team, attention must now turn to other active bids.

“As well as interest from buyers for the whole business, the sale process has also surfaced a number of formal and indicative offers for significant viable parts of the business from established retail operators.”

The American private investment firm, which bought Poundland from Pepco for £1 in summer 2025, said the remaining options would be objectively evaluated “with a view to minimising uncertainty for Poundland's people and all relevant stakeholders”.

The statement came amid news reports that three new board members had quit over disagreements with Poundland’s majority owner, Gordon Brothers.

Sources reportedly told Sky News the dispute centred around the shareholders’ decision not to accept a solvent offer for the company from Irish real estate business Martin Property Group.

Reports today said Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds had written to Gordon Brothers about the matter, as Usdaw urged the Government to help save thousands of jobs.

Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas said: “I am calling on the Government to do everything it can to save 11,000 jobs, which are mainly done by women and part-time workers.

“Over the past five years, around 250,000 jobs have been lost in the retail sector. Job security is a key priority for a successful economy; therefore, I urge the Government to grant the retail sector the same priority and strategic support it provides to other vital industries.”

National officer Bally Auluk added: “The owners’ failure to accept a solvent offer leads us to conclude they want to let the company fall into administration and make 11,000 people redundant in the run up to Christmas. I urge the Government to take robust action and save thousands of retail jobs.”

Poundland told the Express & Star the offer from Martin Property Group was a “fully funded, ready-to-go bid that would have kept the business intact”.

A spokesperson said its rejection had caused “an unexpected, unwanted and wholly avoidable situation for Poundland” and that any possible break up of the company stood in “stark contrast to the remarkable recovery taking shape at Poundland”.

Earlier the company had said a restructuring programme had put Poundland in “very good shape” - with positive like-for-like sales growth achieved in the last full quarter to September 27.

Poundland had begun trialling an expansion of the availability of general merchandise and clothing ranges in 15 stores in September. It also opened its first new store in two years at Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex, at the end of August.

Gordon Brothers has been contacted for further comment.