Today’s announcement by Marks & Spencer that it is cutting 7,000 jobs over the next three months across its stores and management ’applies across the British Isles’ a spokesman told Isle of Man Newspapers.

But he said the chain would not at this stage be announcing changes by store or region.

This means it is not known how or whether the island’s M&S in Drumgold Street, Douglas, will be affected.

M&S said the coronavirus pandemic had made it clear there had been a ’material shift in trade’.

The company said clothing and home trading in the stores remains well below last year, with online and home delivery strong.

The store chain said in a statement: ’It is clear that there has been a material shift in trade and whilst it is too early to predict with precision where a new post Covid sales mix will settle, we must act now to reflect this change.’

From today (Tuesday) ’we are embarking on a multi-level consultation programme which we anticipate will result in a reduction of 7,000 roles over the next three months.

’These will include departures in our central support centre, in regional management and in our UK stores, reflecting the fact that the change has been felt throughout the business.

’We expect a significant proportion will be through voluntary departures and early retirement.’

Chief executive Steve Rowe said: ’In May we outlined our plans to learn from the crisis, accelerate our transformation and deliver a stronger, more agile business in a world in which some customer habits were changed forever.

’Three months on and our Never the Same Again programme is progressing; albeit the outlook is uncertain and we remain cautious.

’As part of our Never The Same Again programme to embed the positive changes in ways of working through the crisis, we are today announcing proposals to further streamline store operations and management structures.

’These proposals are an important step in becoming a leaner, faster business set up to serve changing customer needs and we are committed to supporting colleagues through this time.’