Billionaire retail boss to aid 1,000 BHS staff

Sir Philip Green is to offer 1,000 BHS staff jobs at his Arcadia retail empire, a week after being grilled by MPs over the department store chain's collapse.
Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on the collapse of BHS.
Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016.Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on the collapse of BHS.
Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016.
Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on the collapse of BHS. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016.

The workers are currently employed at Arcadia concessions, such as Dorothy Perkins and Wallis, within BHS outlets.

It is understood that the Topshop billionaire has also instructed his lieutenants to assist some of the 10,000 remaining BHS workers find new jobs.

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The collapse of BHS in April was the biggest retail failure to befall the UK since Woolworths went bust in 2008,

Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on Wednesday June 15, 2016.Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on Wednesday June 15, 2016.
Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on Wednesday June 15, 2016.

There are four BHS stores in Northern Ireland: Belfast, Holywood Exchange, Newtownabbey and Lisburn.

During a parliamentary hearing last week, Sir Philip apologised to the staff of the collapsed retailer and admitted that he sold the business to the “wrong guy”, adding that he will “sort” the firm’s pension scheme which has a £571 million black hole.

Sir Philip had bought BHS for £200 million in 2000.

He has come in for criticism for taking around £400 million in dividends out of BHS during his 15-year ownership and for selling the firm to former bankrupt Dominic Chappell for £1 in 2015.

Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on Wednesday June 15, 2016.Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on Wednesday June 15, 2016.
Sir Philip Green gives evidence to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee and Work and Pensions Committee at Portcullis House, London, on Wednesday June 15, 2016.
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On Tuesday, MPs from the Business and Pension Select Committees wrote to his wife, Lady Tina Green, to demand answers over the “complex web” of businesses owned by the family in the wake of the BHS scandal.

The 163-store chain is in the process of being wound down by administrator Duff & Phelps.

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