It’s business as usual at Tynwald Mills, St John’s, operations director Lesley O’Neill has told Business News.

Mrs O’Neill spoke as it emerged High Street giant Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM) has signalled its intention to appoint administrators within days.

But Mrs O’Neill told Business News yesterday (Monday): ’I can advise that Tynwald Mills is not affected or impacted by the recent EWM announcement, and it is business as usual.’

She added: ’Tynwald Mills is a totally separate company and is not affected, neither will it be in the future.

’It’s business as usual and we are busy putting our Christmas plans in place, with new stocks arriving daily.’

Edinburgh Woollen Mill stepped in at Tynwald Mills last year

Scotswoman Mrs O’Neill has worked for the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group - whose founder and chief executive is the Sunday Times Rich List businessman Philip Day - for more than 30 years.

She lives and works in the Isle of Man.

When the centre reopened at the end of May, after the island’s lockdown was lifted, Mrs O’Neill said she was over the moon that the historic venue was open again for customers.

On Friday, EWM chief executive Steve Simpson has called the trading environment ’brutal’ and warned of ’significant cuts and closures’.

The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group confirmed just over a year ago that it had bought Tynwald Mills.

The retail giant, which has its international headquarters in Carlisle, pledged to invest in the site at St John’s ’immediately’ and ’create new jobs over the long term’. One of its first jobs on the site was fixing the roof, as reported in Business News.

It also wants to help eventually to attract more tourists to the island.

At the time a spokesman for the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group told Business News: ’We recognised straight away that Tynwald Mills represents an incredible opportunity.’

The group was ’proud and excited to have secured this fantastic site and look forward to becoming part of the community long term.’ At the time the group said the move signalled its ambitions to cement the retail centre as the number-one shopping destination site on the island for families and tourists.

The group believes the heritage site is an ’iconic fixture in the Isle of Man, home to a historic mill and the island’s only department store, bringing together a diverse range of men’s women’s and homeware brands under one roof.’

At the time the Edinburgh Woollen Mill group said it has decades of of experience improving, managing and drawing tourists to destination and historic sites which blend retail, catering and family attractions, such as the Scottish Deer Centre and the Masson Mills Shopping village in the UK.

Tynwald Mills has been established for more than 30 years at St John’s.

It bills itself as the only department store in the Isle of Man.

On Friday it emerged that EWM - which owns Peacocks, Jaeger, Edinburgh Woollen Mill itself, and several other high street chains - has lodged a notice of intention to appoint administrators to look for potential buyers to shore up its business.

It was reported on Friday that the move by EWM, owned by Mr Day, will see insolvency specialists spend around 10 days carrying out an urgent review ahead of further action.

Stores will continue trading and further details will be announced in due course, the group added.

Chief executive Steve Simpson said: ’Like every retailer, we have found the past seven months extremely difficult. This situation has grown worse in recent weeks as we have had to deal with a series of false rumours about our payments and trading which have impacted our credit insurance. As directors we have a duty to the business.’