Home furnishings retailer IKEA today officially kicked off construction of its new Sheffield store. IKEA UK and Ireland country retail manager, Gillian Drakeford, and Sheffield store manager, Garry Deakin, were joined by Sheffield City Council members Cllr Bramall, deputy leader of the Council; Cllr Fox, Lord Mayor of Sheffield; and Clive Betts MP in leading the ground-breaking ceremony for the new store.
Due to open in the late summer of 2017, IKEA Sheffield will be located on Sheffield Road, Tinsley, bringing its extensive range of inspirational, well designed, quality products at affordable prices.
On IKEA’s new Sheffield store, UK and Ireland country retail manager Gillian Drakeford says: “This new store emphasises our commitment to UK expansion and investment. Our aim is to make IKEA as accessible to as many people as possible, and we are delighted to be able to bring our home-furnishing offer to Sheffield.”
The new store will create 480 local job opportunities – 380 jobs in store and a further 100 for the call centre. Roles will include customer relations, sales, interior designers, IT, sustainability and marketing specialists. IKEA is committed to working alongside local employment agencies to ensure that job vacancies are made available to members of the local community.
Sheffield store manager Garry Deakin says: “I can’t wait to open IKEA Sheffield and look forward to welcoming our new co-workers on board. We will aim to become an active part of the local community, while ensuring we provide the unique consumer experience that our customers have come to expect.”
IKEA is committed to investing in its people and paying its co-workers a meaningful wage that supports the cost of living. Therefore, all IKEA Sheffield co-workers will be paid the Real Living Wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation.
IKEA Sheffield will be the retailer’s most sustainable store to date and will aim to achieve 100% renewable energy. The store is targeting a BREEAM ‘excellent’ accreditation and will incorporate a number of green technologies such as photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting and linking in with the district heating scheme.
Electric vehicles will be used for home delivery and IKEA will actively encourage co-workers and visitors to use sustainable transport options and will contribute in excess of £400,000 as part of the Section 106 agreement in sustainable travel. This includes improvements to the tram stop and cycle ways and will enhance the efficiency of the bus fleet serving the store. IKEA has also committed to improving local roads and junctions around the store to improve traffic flows.
Cllr Bramall, deputy leader of Sheffield City Council, says: “We know many people have been anticipating IKEA’s arrival in Sheffield. That’s why we’ve worked hard with IKEA to make this happen. The new store will redevelop a derelict site and bring jobs and investment to the City, whilst adding to Sheffield’s retail offer, so it’s great news.”
The Sheffield store will be the 20th IKEA in the UK.
