The news that Pret A Manger is set to axe thousands of posts adds to the fast-growing toll of job losses across the economy since the beginning of lockdown in March.

The sandwich chain has announced it is cutting 2,800 jobs and closing 30 stores, including in Cardiff, after sales plunged by nearly three-quarters.

Like many companies they have struggled during lockdown and the start of the pandemic in March sales at Pret have gone down 74%.

The latest figures show the UK has shed almost 750,000 jobs since the start of the coronavirus lockdown with many retailers being forced to permanently shutter stores.

The number of employees on UK payrolls was 730,000 lower in July than in March – a 2.5% fall that was largely caused by companies freezing recruitment, according to Office for National Statistics figures.

These are some of the Welsh companies and big UK companies with employees in Wales which have announced job losses since March as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

Pret a Manger - 2,800 jobs at risk

Chief executive Pano Christou said the company had been forced to completely restructure after losing almost a decade of growth to Covid-19.

He said: "I'm gutted we've had to lose so many colleagues. Although we're now starting to see a steady but slow recovery the pandemic has taken away almost a decade of growth at Pret."

Last month the popular sandwich chain asked staff to cut their hours as they revealed plans to close 30 stores.

Marks & Spencer - 7,000 jobs

Earlier this month Marks & Spencer announced it was cutting 7,000 jobs over the next three months across its stores and management.

It said the coronavirus pandemic had made it clear there had been a "material shift in trade".

In-store sales of clothing and home goods were "well below" 2019 although online and home deliveries were strong.

M&S said it hoped a "significant proportion" of the cuts – which represent about a 10th of its workforce – will be achieved through voluntary redundancy and early retirement.

John Lewis - 1,300 jobs at risk

Around 1,300 jobs are at risk of redundancy as the John Lewis Partnership announced it will permanently shut down eight John Lewis stores that have not yet re-opened post-lockdown.

The partnership has started a consultation process with affected staff and the decision to not re-open these stores forms part of the retail giant’s ongoing business strategy review.

The partnership said the eight John Lewis stores earmarked for closure include the small travel hub shops at Heathrow and St Pancras, four At Home shops in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth, and two full-size department stores in Birmingham and Watford.

Boots - 4,000

Last month the high street chemist announced plans to cut more than 4,000 jobs as part of action to mitigate the “significant impact” of Covid-19.

The move will affect around 7% of the health and beauty retailer’s total UK workforce and will particularly affect staff in its Nottingham support office.

It will also affect some deputy manager, assistant manager, beauty adviser, and customer adviser roles across its stores.

The restructuring will also result in the closure of 48 Boots Opticians stores.

The news comes after retail sales plunged 48% during its third quarter because of the coronavirus pandemic despite Boots keeping swathes of its stores open during lockdown as it was classified as an essential retailer.

The retailer said footfall into Boots stores “dramatically reduced” during the lockdown and its revenue-driving beauty and fragrance counters were closed.

More than 100 larger Boots stores in city centre, station, and airport locations were also closed.

Meanwhile its opticians business saw sales dive by 72% compared to the same quarter last year as people stayed at home.

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DW Sports - 1,700 jobs at risk

The sports retailer and gym group DW Sports filed for administration, placing more than 1,700 employees at risk.

The group operates 73 gyms and 75 retail sites across the UK but permanently closed 25 of its stores.

DW Sports Fitness in Bangor
DW Sports Fitness in Bangor

Trading through the DW Sports website has also ceased with immediate effect while its retail arm will be wound down for good.

Since then the Frasers Group boss Mike Ashley paid £37m to buy DW Sports out of administration.

WHSmith - 1,500 jobs at risk

Around 1,500 jobs are under threat at WH Smith.

The chain said its restructuring plans will see the posts go across the business with proposals expected to cost the company between £15m and £19m.

WH Smith said it could axe up to 1,500 jobs after the pandemic pushed down the number of customers going into its stores

The books and stationery retailer said it needed to reduce costs as its shops in airports and railway stations – usually the star performers in its trading updates – have been hit by low passenger numbers while its high street stores have also suffered from low footfall.

The job cuts are on top of the 150 head office redundancies announced in July.

Airbus - 1,700 jobs at risk

Hundreds of jobs are to be axed by Airbus in the UK as reduced production levels are leading to a global restructure.

The company was planning for a two-year drop of 40% in jetliner output because of the coronavirus pandemic, chief executive Guillaume Faury warned as he said restructuring was needed.

The company has now confirmed 15,000 jobs are at risk globally with 1,700 of those in the UK and unions fear 1,400 could be at the Broughton site in Flintshire.

EasyJet - 700 jobs at risk

The flight took off from Gatwick bound for Scotland

The budget airline is considering cutting more than 700 pilot jobs and closing its bases at Stansted, Southend, and Newcastle airports, according to union Balpa.

The airline has now begun formal consultation on its proposals after it previously announced it would reduce its workforce by up to 30%.

Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said up to 727 pilots were at risk of redundancy.

He said: "We know that aviation is in the midst of the Covid crisis and we had been expecting easyJet to make an announcement of temporary measures to help the airline through to recovery.

"But this seems an excessive overreaction and easyJet won't find a supply of pilots waiting to come back when the recovery takes place over the next two years."

EasyJet said it would continue flying to Stansted, Southend, and Newcastle even if it stopped basing aircraft there.

Ryanair - 3,500 jobs at risk

The budget airline's chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has told staff the airline can avoid many of its planned 3,500 job losses if all staff agree to swallow pay cuts of up to 20%.

Mr O’Leary, who announced plans to cut 3,000-3,500 jobs in May, said oacross-the-board pay cuts could be “an alternative to job losses”.

He told BBC News: “We’ve already announced about 3,500 job losses but we’re engaged in extensive negotiations with our pilots, our cabin crew, and we’re asking them to all take pay cuts as an alternative to job losses.

“We’re looking from 20% from the best-paid captains, 5% from the lowest-paid flight attendants, and we think if we can negotiate those pay cuts by agreement we can avoid most but not all job losses.”

British Airways - 400 jobs at risk

Almost 400 British Airways jobs are under threat in south Wales.

The airline is in a consultation with its workers across the area.

The company has sites in Llantrisant, Blackwood and at Cardiff Airport in Rhoose and employs 901 people across those locations.

Workers union Unite said the announcement was "devastating" and many of those at risk were furloughed at the time.

A BA spokeswoman said: "We are acting now to protect as many jobs possible. The airline industry is facing the deepest structural change in its history, as well as facing a severely weakened global economy.

"We are committed to consulting openly with our unions and our people as we prepare for a new future."

Virgin - 3,150 jobs at risk

Virgin Atlantic announced in May it is to cut more than 3,000 jobs in the UK and end its operation at Gatwick airport.

Pilots' union Balpa described the announcement as "devastating".

Many airlines have been struggling as the coronavirus pandemic has brought global travel to a virtual standstill.

The airline currently employs a total of about 10,000 people.

General Electric - 13,000 jobs at risk

A consultation on possible job losses at General Electric in Wales was announced in May.

GE said it was consulting with the 1,400 people at its Nantgarw site.

It said 13,000 of its 52,000-strong worldwide workforce could be affected as the air travel industry feels the effects of the global lockdown.

GE Aviation makes jet engines for Boeing and Airbus and the site at Nantgarw has the capacity to maintain up to 500 engines a year.

Rolls Royce - 9,000 jobs lost

The dragon on the bonnet of the Rolls-Royce KG1

Aerospace giant Rolls-Royce said in May that it planned to cut at least 9,000 jobs after the aviation industry was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

It said it expects the job losses from its global workforce of 52,000 as part of a “major reorganisation” of the business to adapt to a fall in demand.

The group warned it will take “several years” for the industry to recover to levels seen before the crisis struck.

The company said the cuts could result in £700m in savings towards an overall aim of £1.3bn in annual savings.

It said it will also cut spending across its plant, property, and other areas to strengthen its finances. On Thursday the firm announced a record pre-tax loss of £5.4bn for the first half of this year.

Upper Crust - 5,000 jobs at risk

Around 5,000 jobs are under threat at Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza owner SSP amid a shake-up following plunging passengers numbers at railway stations and airports due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The group warned it expects to open only around a fifth of its sites in the UK by the autumn as travel is set to remain at very low levels.

It has launched a consultation on a restructure to "simplify and reshape" the business in the face of the pandemic, which it said could lead to more than half of its 9,000-strong peak season workforce being axed. The group said head office and UK staff would be affected by the cuts.

Frankie & Benny's - 3,000 jobs at risk

Up to 3,000 jobs are on the line as the owner of Frankie and Benny’s announced in June it was going to close 125 of its sites across the country.

The Restaurant Group said it was seeking approval from its landlords for a deal that would let it reduce the number of restaurants it runs, and negotiate lower rents for many of those left over.

If landlords approve the deal, known as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), it will leave the firm’s leisure arm with about 160 sites.

TM Lewin - 600 jobs at risk

Around 600 workers will lose their jobs at TM Lewin as the shirtmaker said it would close all of its shops after taking a major hit during the coronavirus pandemic.

A firm hired to restructure the menswear company, which has had a sponsorship deal with the Welsh Rugby Union in the past, said it was switching all sales to the internet in a bid to save the brand but would not be able to rescue its estate of 66 shops.

Shoe Zone - 20 stores to close

Shoe Zone in Green Street, Neath

Retailer Shoe Zone axed 20 stores and announced job losses at its head office to slash costs in June as it warned the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic will last for years.

The group said 470 of its 490 shops re-opened across the UK after deciding to call time on an another 20 sites.

It will also continue to review stores after re-opening as the high street looks to recover.

Shoe Zone said it took “immediate action” after the UK was placed in lockdown in March, cutting jobs across its head office in Leicester and pausing all discretionary spend.

But shares fell 3% as the group cautioned that the retail sector will take years to recover from the crisis.

Pizza Express - 1,100 jobs at risk

The pizza chain revealed in August plans to close 67 of its restaurants, putting 1,100 jobs at risk.

The company said the move to shut about 15% of its sites was a "very difficult one" but would help project 9,000 jobs.

Burger King - 1,600 jobs at risk

The company's UK boss has warned that up to 1,600 jobs could be lost.

The chain has more than 16,500 UK staff.

Chief executive Alasdair Murdoch told the BBC’s Newscast the economic damage stemming from the crisis could ultimately force the company to permanently close up to 10% of its stores. The company has 530 sites in the UK.

Harveys - 1,300 jobs at risk

At the end of June furniture retailer Harveys collapsed into administration with the immediate loss of 240 jobs while more than 1,300 others were at risk.

Roughly 50 stores have permanently closed following the deal leaving between 150 and 175 stores remaining open that operate under sister brand Bensons for Beds.

The owner of Bensons for Beds, Blue Group, saved almost 2,000 jobs with its new restructuring plan but left 1,000 jobs at risk.

Clarks - 900 jobs

Clarks is set to slash around 900 office jobs as part of a major shake-up to revitalise the business for a post-coronavirus climate and as it enters its third century of operation.

The 195-year-old footwear retailer has so far announced 160 redundancies globally, including 108 job losses at its headquarters in Street, Somerset. Clarks said that over the next 18 months the turnaround strategy will see it make about another 700 employees redundant.

Oasis and Warehouse - 1,800 jobs at risk

It was announced in April that more than 1,800 jobs are set to be lost at Oasis and Warehouse as administrators said they were unable to rescue the company behind the brands.

Deloitte said that all stores will close indefinitely and online sales will be stopped.

The chains had 92 stores and 437 concessions.

The retailer was owned by Kaupthing, the failed Icelandic bank, and its own administrators had tried to sell Oasis Warehouse three years ago but this was later abandoned.

Laura Ashley - stores to shut

The fashion chain Laura Ashley filed for administration in March after rescue talks were thwarted by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Laura Ashley intends to appoint administrators as coronavirus hits the market and its investors were unable to step in with the cash needed to stay afloat

Stores in Bangor, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Llandudno, Newtown, and Swansea have temporarily re-opened to offer "dramatic reductions".

Debenhams - 2,500 jobs at risk

Debenhams announced during lockdown that hundreds of head office jobs were set to go.

Some shops have re-opened but there is a slimmed-down head office, which employs around 3,000 people, as staff leave from meRchandising, buying, design, and HR departments.

Debenhams was already struggling before the lockdown having fallen into administration on April 9 in a protective measure against creditors demanding their money.

The retail chain had warned it wouldn't re-open stores in Wrexham, Llandudno, Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport unless it got support towards its rates bills.

But agreement was reached with the only Welsh store to remain shut being Merthyr Tydfi.

Mulberry - 375 jobs at risk

Luxury fashion brand Mulberry announced plans to cut its workforce by 25% following a “decrease in demand” during the coronavirus lockdown.

The British heritage label, which is best known for its handbags that can cost more than £1,000 each, said it has launched a consultation on plans to reduce its global workforce of approximately 1,500 staff by a quarter.

The job cuts will span across the business including head office, retail, manufacturing, and distribution.

River Island - 600 jobs at risk

In August River Island announced the second round of cuts in just over a month.

The second announcement was that 350 jobs are to go across its shops.

In July River Island made 250 head office staff redundant as a cost-cutting measure after the coronavirus pandemic triggered a fall in sales and footfall.

The retailer also announced that shops in Pontypridd and Carmarthen wouldn't be re-opening after lockdown.

Centrica - 5,000 jobs at risk

The owner of British Gas said it will cut 5,000 jobs this year as the company restructures following the impact of coronavirus.

Centrica said it would strip out three layers of management to slimline the business and cut down on bureaucracy.

British Gas has a call centre in Callaghan Square in Cardiff which houses around 500 employees.

The group has specified that around half of the job losses are set to be among the company's leadership, management, and corporate staff. This includes half of the 40-strong senior leadership team who will step down by the end of August.

Virgin Money - 300 jobs

High street lender Virgin Money has said it will resume plans to shut or merge 52 branches and axe 300 jobs after putting the overhaul on hold amid the coronavirus crisis.

But the group said the immediate job cuts are 200 fewer than those previously announced due to changes made in response to Covid-19.

It will also offer staff affected by branch closures the option to remain with the group until October 20 to help offer support to vulnerable customers.

Virgin Money was due to restart its shake-up, shutting 22 branches and merging 30 more into nearby sites, as well as rebranding all Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank branches under the Virgin Money banner. 

Shearings - 2,500 jobs lost

The owner of Shearings, the coach holidays provider, crashed into administration in May resulting in the immediate loss of 2,500 jobs and thousands of customers' holidays being cancelled.

EY, the administrator to Specialist Leisure Group (SLG), said it had made more than 2,000 staff redundant after they had had previously been furloughed under the government's job retention scheme.

SLG's operations include brands such as UK Breakaways, Coast & Country Hotels, Bay Hotels, Country Living Hotels, and Wallace Arnold Travel, has ceased trading with immediate effect.

The hotel chains will not re-open following the insolvency.

Cath Kidston - 908 jobs lost

Cath Kidston is to permanently to shut all 60 of its UK stores, including the flagship store in Cardiff's St David's Centre, resulting in the loss of 908 jobs.

The retailer confirmed its British stores would not re-open after lockdown with only 32 of its 940 staff seeing their jobs secured as part of the deal.

The move resulted in the “cessation of the retail store network” and Cath Kidston will now only trade via online, wholesale, and its overseas store network.

Travis Perkins - 2,500 workers lose jobs and 165 stores close

The owner of Wickes is planning to close 165 of its Travis Perkins builders' merchant branches in the UK with around 2,500 workers set to lose their jobs.

Travis Perkins, who also own Toolstation, said the move was because it expected the recession to hit the trade for at least two years.

The firm has more than 640 branches nationwide and 200 tool-hire outlets supplying thousands of product lines to trade professionals and self-builders.

Monsoon Accessorize - 545 jobs to go

A total of 545 jobs are set to be lost after the parent company of shops Monsoon and Accessorize entered administration.

The group said 35 stores are expected to close after the coronavirus pandemic scuppered its turnaround plan.

The brands have more than half a dozen stores in Wales including in Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen, Llandundo, Aberystwyth, and Cwmbran.

M&Co - 380 jobs to go

At the beginning of August M&Co confirmed plans to permanently close down 47 stores and axe 380 jobs.

The move is part of a major restructuring via a pre-pack administration deal to secure its long-term future.

The Scottish fashion retailer will operate with 218 stores and 2,200 employees after completing the restructuring.

The 380 redundancies, which were made with immediate effect, comprise of just over 325 shop floor staff and almost 55 employees at offices in London and Glasgow.

Quiz - 82 stores at risk

The fashion chain placed the division that runs its 82 standalone stores into administration as part of a restructure to offload loss-making outlets and slash its rent bill.

The group said 822 of the 915 staff affected by the decision will remain with the group but that 93 jobs are at risk.

Dixons Carphone - 2,900 redundancies

Dixons Carphone announced plans to cut 800 jobs as part of an overhaul of its store management structure.

The parent company of tech retailer Currys PC World said the shake-up would see it create a “flatter management structure” as it adapts to increasing online sales.

Currys is offering a special A-Level results deal

Dixons Carphone said the changes would it see remove retail manager, assistant manager, and team leader roles while introducing new sales manager, customer experience manager, and operational excellence manager positions in stores.

Just before lockdown came into place Dixons Carphone permanently shut down all 531 of its standalone Carphone Warehouse stores, which resulted in 2,900 redundancies.

Dyson - 900 jobs at risk

Dyson said it would axe 900 jobs across the company as the Covid-19 crisis has shifted consumer purchases online.

The tech brand and retailer employs a total of 4,000 people in the UK and those affected will be staff in retail and customer service.

At least 600 jobs will be scrapped in the UK with the other 300 being elsewhere in Dyson’s global operations.

Pendragon - 1,800 jobs at risk

The owner of UK car dealerships Evans Halshaw and Stratstone plans to cut 1,800 jobs.

Pendragon, which employed about 8,000 people before coronavirus struck the UK, said 15 of its showrooms would be closed with 400 job losses. A further 1,400 redundancies will be made across its dealers and its head office after a review of its operations.