Sheffield hopes when fashion giant boohoo announces 5,000 jobs bonanza

The fashion retailer wants more warehouse space to meet increasing demand from overseas, which now accounts for 50 percent of sales.

The hope is that Sheffield, which has strong ties to the company, will benefit.

In June, The Star revealed 200 jobs were on the way after boohoo hired logistics firm Clipper to run a warehouse in Europa Way, Tinsley, with room for 24,000 pallets. Clipper also employs 1,000 at another warehouse on Shepcote Lane in Tinsley that is run for its boohoo subsidiary PrettyLittleThing.

The announcement on jobs and investment is set in the boohoo Economic Impact Report which claims companies added 559.4 million to the UK economy in the last financial year, about 4.4 per cent of the total UK apparel and footwear retail sector. It also says 94 per cent of the jobs and economic benefits it has created are outside London.

Group CEO John Lyttle said: The growth this business has experienced over the last 15 years has been phenomenal. This is not without challenges, but it is appropriate to celebrate the significant contribution the company makes to the cities and communities in which we operate.

The investments we have planned will help us to continue our growth, increase our customer base both at home and abroad, adding more value as we do so.

All of this was only possible because of the amazing people who make up our boohoo family. I am very proud of the way they face each challenge and I look forward to growing together as we strengthen our position as a leader in global fashion e-commerce.

The job announcements come after two tough years for boohoo after it was revealed some suppliers in Leicester had been operating in sweatshop conditions. Some workers are reported to be paid below the minimum wage.

Sustainability is also an issue, with some shoppers choosing to keep clothing items longer and away from so-called single-use fashion.

The company has picked up a string of failed highway names in recent years, including Coast, Karen Millen, Dorothy Perkins and Debenhams.

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