JOHN Lewis has confirmed that its Aberdeen store will close for good, with hundreds of jobs at risk.
The high street giant announced the plans earlier this year as part of proposals to shutter eight shops across the UK.
The decision has now been finalised following a consultation with 265 staff members over the future of the George Street site.
Jamie Wishart, head of branch for John Lewis Aberdeen, expressed his “immense sadness” over the closure of the store, which first opened in 1989.
“For the past 31 years, generations of Partners have served Aberdeen and the surrounding communities with pride and love,” he said.
“It is therefore with immense sadness that our time here has come to an end.
“I would like to thank our customers for their loyalty and for the outpouring of support we have received in these past few months – it’s been both heartwarming and uplifting.
“Our partners throughout the years have also been a credit to our partnership and to our shop – they have made a difference to customers everyday and they will continue to be supported over the coming months.
“Aberdeen is a special place and I wish the city every success in the future.”
READ MORE: 'High costs of sending stock north' behind Scots John Lewis store closure
The initial announcement sparked a campaign by local politicians and members of the public to reverse the decision, to no avail.
An investigation by The National revealed that the move had been prompted in part due to the cost of transporting stock north to Scotland.
The company said staff who are not offered a new role with the John Lewis Partnership are to be offered payments via a retraining fund.
It will contribute up to £3000 towards a recognised qualification or course for up to two years for any partner with two years’ service or more.
All partners will also have the option of a three month support programme with an outplacement specialist to help with CV writing and interview skills.
As well as statutory redundancy pay, those who have worked with the business for more than a year will be entitled to partnership redundancy pay, which equates to two weeks’ pay for every year of service, regardless of age.
Those with less than one year’s service who leave on grounds of redundancy will receive an ex-gratia tax-free payment equivalent to one week’s contractual pay.
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