Retailer seeks IT staff for expansion plans

Leisure brand is building IT skills for growth

Outdoor goods retailer Blacks Leisure is hiring IT staff to support a business expansion programme.

The company, which owns high-street stores Blacks, Millets and Free Spirit, wants to recruit business analysts and networking, infrastructure, warehousing, and project management specialists, to work on a variety of IT initiatives it is planning.

‘We have a number of firm IT projects planned as part of the expansion of the business, and we are looking to develop our relatively small IT team to supplement these,’ said Kath Roach, chief information officer at Blacks Leisure.

The schedule of work ahead for the IT team includes installation of a new IT system and infrastructure for the company’s 500 stores, and consolidation of warehousing capabilities into a new site. The team will also be updating central systems and moving headquarters.

‘We are looking to strengthen the IT department to support the new elements of the business – such as marketing, which has increased significantly,’ said Roach.

‘IT has a large part to play in terms of facilitating and enabling the overall business transformation that will foster growth.’

Roach says Blacks’ in-house IT department is to expand by two or three initially.

Phased recruitment will then be used as the company starts more projects during the year.

‘IT is key to the success of the business,’ said Roach.

‘The business absolutely requires the changes in IT to support the growth we forecast in the next 12 months to three years.’