Business

1,500 jobs may go at troubled Joules

CLOTHING store Joules is heading for administration.

The chain, which has stores in Dorchester and Sherborne, said it plans to appoint administrators – putting more than 1,500 jobs at risk.

The move comes after the brand, based in Leicestershire, said rescue talks with potential investors failed to secure extra funds to keep the company afloat. Retailer Next, which this month bought the made.com furniture retailer brand, had been in talks over Joules over the summer but failed to reach an agreement.

Plans for administration come after the company this month revealed disappointing trading figures, due in part to warmer-than-expected weather in the UK.

Joules in Sherborne – the company has another shop in Dorchester PHOTO: Google

Joules was established in 1977 by Ian Joule, selling clothing and accessories at equestrian and country shows. But after the firm was taken over by Tom Joule in 1989, the

Last call for town’s business awards

TIME is running out to enter or nominate a business in the Shaftesbury Business Awards.

The awards, launched in late September, aim to promote the range and quality of local firms.

Businesses can enter as many categories as they want at no cost, and judging will take place online.

Nigel Reeve, of organisers MW Events, said: “Local businesses and SMEs help drive the economy in this country. Large or small, they are the backbone of the UK economy driving recovery and prosperity. Until recently business awards focused on larger-sized businesses and covered large geographical areas. These are different. The focus is on local businesses.”

Entries close at 2pm on Monday 28 November, and the awards ceremony is at lunchtime on Thursday 26 January at the Grosvenor Arms Hotel in Shaftesbury.

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