DIXONS Carphone will shut all 531 of its standalone Carphone Warehouse mobile phone shops, including the unit in the Kingsgate Shopping Centre in Dunfermline, with 2,900 jobs being axed.

The decision, which is not a result of the coronavrius pandemic, was announced yesterday (Tuesday) morning with the branches set to close on April 3.

The Carphone Warehouse within the Currys PC World store at Halbeath Retail Park in Dunfermline will not be affected.

The group will concentrate on one-stop shops – “giving customers the widest range of technology and services in one place” – with plans to sell mobile phones solely in its larger 305 combined Currys PC World stores and online across the UK.

Up to 1,800 workers will be offered new roles within the business.

The smaller standalone Carphone Warehouse stores represent eight per cent of the group’s selling space in the UK and Dixons Carphone said the move to close them was “essential” to turn round the UK Mobile arm of the business.

Alex Baldock, group chief executive, said: “Customers are changing how they buy technology, and Dixons Carphone must change with them. We’re under way with a fundamental transformation to do so.

“Today’s tough decision is an essential part of that, the next step in making our UK Mobile business a success for customers, colleagues and other shareholders. Clearly, with unsustainable losses of £90 million expected this year, Mobile is currently holding back the whole business.

“There’s never an easy time for an announcement like this but the turbulent times ahead only underline the importance of acting now.

“I don’t underestimate how upsetting this news will be for our colleagues, and we’ll treat everyone with honesty, respect and care.

“We want to keep as many of our Carphone Warehouse colleagues as we can, and expect to find new roles for almost 40 per cent of those affected.

“We’re working hard to look after those colleagues we can’t find new roles for, financially and otherwise. We’ll pay enhanced redundancy, any bonuses, honour their share awards, and help them find new jobs through an outplacement programme.

“We recognise our responsibilities towards our colleagues and communities, and intend to fulfil them.”