Trade tools retailer Screwfix has announced plans to open 50 new stores this year, creating around 600 jobs across the UK and Ireland.

40 of the new shops will be located in the UK, generating up to 500 jobs, while the remaining 10 stores will be based in Ireland, creating 100 new jobs.

The retailer said the new roles will be in areas like retail management, service assistants and supervisors and be created by the end of January 2022.

Screwfix already has 711 stores across the UK and 12 in Ireland, with a total of 11,643 employees.

The additional stores are part of the company’s wider plan to increase the number of outlets to more than 900, which is up from its previous target of 900.

The company said that the raised target follows the “identification of further opportunities for stores in inner cities and rural catchment areas.”

The multi-channel business has opened on average one store every week over the past five years.

The company’s announcement comes as new research reveals over 17,000 chain stores closed in 2020.

The success of Screwfix over the past year, which has been deemed an essential retailer and remained open during the pandemic, has not been reflected in the wider retail market.

Many retailers have faced the opposite outcome, with companies like John Lewis announcing the closure of stores.

Non-essential shops have suffered substantially due to enforced store closures prompted by the coronavirus crisis.

“I am incredibly proud of all Screwfix colleagues for their support in continuing to keep our customers supplied safely,” said John Mewett, chief executive, Screwfix. “We’re delighted to be opening 50 new stores this year, creating 600 jobs. The growing demand for convenience means we now see scope for over 900 stores in the UK & Ireland, which will help our busy customers get their jobs done. We know that time is money for our customers and these new stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland enable us to provide our customers with added convenience and certainty, and provide even more job opportunities for local communities when they need it most.”

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