Support offered to TGI Fridays staff as site shuts

A council is offering support to TGI Fridays employees after the firm announced more than 400 redundancies earlier this week.

The restaurant in Telford, Shropshire, closed immediately on 13 January along with 15 other sites across the UK to help "secure the long-term future" of the firm.

Telford and Wrekin Council said practical support was available for employees to help them find new employment, training or reskilling opportunities.

Councillor Shirley Reynolds said the authority understood it was an "incredibly difficult time" for those affected by the restaurant's closure.

"Our priority is to ensure people know that support is available right now," she said.

TGI Fridays' business and assets were immediately sold to a company owned by Sugarloaf, the manager of the global TGI Fridays brand.

The brand saw a 6% drop in customers compared to the previous summer, according to research from Worldpanel by Numerator.

Support for those affected includes help updating CVs, accessing new training and connecting with local employers who are actively recruiting.

Residents looking for a new job can get free support through Telford Job Box, which is available as a drop-in service at the council's Southwater One building.

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