Nine new jobs created at Wick's Screwfix store – company aims to support local charities
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Nine jobs have been created at a new hardware store in Wick and the company aims to support local charities, announced Screwfix this week.
Though the company is celebrating the launch of its new store at Wick Retail Park, which will be its most northerly UK branch, an earlier plan that was discussed at a meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council in October 2022 showed it had designs for the creation of a bespoke building at Wick Airport Industrial Estate.
Planning permission had been sought by the applicant, Caledon Properties Limited, to create two industrial units within a single building at a vacant area within the site. The Highland Council planning application said that the new 383m2 storage distribution warehouse will "meet a specification prepared by Screwfix Ltd who are the preferred tenant of one unit" and a smaller unit (287m2) for another occupier.
The company instead opted for a pre-existing building at Wick Retail Park that was internally altered to suit its needs.
The new Screwfix shop is part of the company’s growing network of over 870 stores across the UK, Republic of Ireland and France and will be open seven days from 8am until 6pm except Sundays when it closes at 4pm.
It also has a Click and Collect service that allows customers to order goods online or over the phone and pick them up from the store. Screwfix’s Wick branch manager, Nicholas Scully, said: “We chose to open a new store in Wick to better meet the needs of the local tradespeople and help them get their job done quickly, affordably and right first time. We’re delighted to bring Screwfix even closer to them for greater convenience.
“Our celebration period runs from Thursday 21st September and throughout the weekend until Sunday 24th September and customers will benefit from 10 per cent off everything. We are looking forward to welcoming and helping more tradespeople and serious DIYers over the coming months.”
Newly recruited colleagues at the Wick store will have the opportunity to participate in the retailer’s progression programmes, joining colleagues currently training across the business in areas including retail management.
As part of Screwfix’s ongoing commitment to reduce carbon emissions, all new stores are now equipped with air-source heat pumps to provide heating powered by electricity instead of gas. Screwfix’s entire store network is already supplied with 95 per cent renewable electricity and the retailer is also working to retrofit heat pumps in existing stores in a bid to make the entire network more sustainable.
To be even closer to its local communities, all Screwfix stores in the UK are now provided with a life-saving defibrillator.
The Screwfix Foundation, which is another aspect of Screwfix’s nationwide initiatives, supports local charities and community projects by providing donations to fix, repair or maintain local homes or community facilities. Screwfix staff get directly involved in helping community projects and host charity fundraising events within the stores.
Registered charities in the area are welcome to apply for funding from the Screwfix Foundation by visiting the the Wick branch to pick up more information. Alternatively, they can download an application form from www.screwfixfoundation.com
From power tools and work wear to cables and pipe fittings, Screwfix offers over 10,000 products available to pick up from over 870, conveniently located stores.
