Underachieving sites set to be shut by Halfords

HALFORDS is planning to shutter a number of its garages this year, facing pressures from heightened labour costs following changes in last year's Autumn Budget.

- AMBER MURRAY

The company singled out sites scheduled for closure as failing to meet the “level of customer experience to which we aspire.”

Following the increased National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the minimum wage hike outlined in the Autumn budget, Halfords reported an upsurge in costs by £33m.