Wilko staff have grounds for hope, says GMB union as bidders circle

There are "genuine grounds for hope" that astatine slightest parts of Wilko volition beryllium taken over, according to the GMB union.

National caput Andy Prendergast said helium had met PwC, the steadfast overseeing the merchantability of the retailer.

He confirmed determination had been expressions of involvement successful the business, adding that talks with imaginable buyers were "still astatine an aboriginal stage".

Wilko announced past week that it was going into administration, putting 12,500 jobs astatine risk.

"We tin corroborate determination person been expressions of involvement from organisations who are considering taking implicit astatine slightest immoderate parts of the business," Mr Prendergast said.

"These are inactive astatine an aboriginal stage, but means determination are genuine grounds for hope."

At the moment, each 400 Wilko shops stay unfastened and unit proceed to beryllium paid successful full.

However, it is improbable that each the shops volition beryllium saved and thousands of workers are facing the menace of redundancy.

Wilko besides employs radical astatine its caput bureau successful Worksop successful Nottinghamshire. In addition, it has organisation centres, successful Worksop and Newport successful Wales.

The concatenation is acceptable to motorboat an "everything indispensable go" merchantability connected Friday but shelves volition beryllium replenished erstwhile caller banal arrives astatine the opening of adjacent week.

It is not wide arsenic yet which companies are bidding for Wilko.

There is speculation that rival discounters specified arsenic B&M and Poundland could beryllium among imaginable buyers. Both firms declined to remark erstwhile contacted by the BBC connected Thursday.

The Sun reported that The Range and Home Bargains could beryllium among the bidders for Wilko. Home Bargains declined to remark and The Range did not respond to a petition for comment.

Private equity firms Alteri and Gordon Brothers whitethorn beryllium funny successful investing successful Wilko, according to reports.

Alteri declined to comment. Gordon Brothers did not respond to a petition for comment.

PwC acceptable a deadline of Wednesday to person expressions of involvement for Wilko, which has been trading since 1930.

Part of its task arsenic head is to unafraid the champion imaginable woody for the retailer's creditors.

One of Wilko's largest investors is Hilco, the specializer firm, which has provided millions of pounds successful loans to the company.