End of an Era for Teenage First Jobs
Supermarket chain Morrisons has made 1,700 paperboys and papergirls redundant following the sale of its home delivery operation. The decision brings a sudden end to a traditional first job for many teenagers across the UK.
The service, known as Morrisons Daily, delivered newspapers to approximately 25,000 households. It largely employed young people, with most working for less than eight hours per week.
A Swift and Unwelcome Change
The home delivery wing has now been sold to News Team Group (NTG) for an undisclosed sum. Morrisons stated that this transition offers a more efficient service for customers.
Many of the young deliverers were informed of their redundancy by letter. One affected paperboy, Ben Peters, 17 from Holland-on-Sea in Essex, had worked his round for four years and seven months. He was given less than a week's notice that his job would end on September 27.
'Losing my job has been very difficult to take in because I'd done it for such a long time,' Ben said. 'I've met so many new people and spoke to them daily and it was all cut off, almost like I don't exist.'
He described a strong sense of community with his customers, many of whom are elderly. He would often check on their wellbeing and even helped one by walking her dog after a knee injury.
Broader Impact and Customer Anxiety
Ben Peters claimed that 14 of his colleagues also lost their roles at the local Morrisons Daily. He expressed concern that job opportunities for teens are scarce and, despite applying widely, he has yet to find new employment.
The change has also caused anxiety for customers. Ben reported that one customer cancelled their delivery after the new firm attempted a delivery at 5am, disturbing neighbours by ringing the flat's buzzer.
Customers were automatically transferred to the NTG service by November 9, with letters assuring them the move would have a positive impact.
A Morrisons spokesperson said: 'Following a thorough review, we've made the difficult decision to close the service... Regrettably, this has resulted in circa 1,700 newspaper delivery colleagues... being made redundant.'
This move is part of a wider restructuring at Morrisons, which has also confirmed the closure of 103 stores, including cafes, florists, and pharmacies this year.
