This comes as part of a 52 store closures across the UK, affecting a total of 1,315 employees.

The Irvine store will cease operations on 12 September, affecting 16 employees. Meanwhile, the Clydebank outlet will shut down on 14 September, leading to 22 redundancies.

The announcement follows the company’s entry into administration and ongoing talks with potential buyers. The joint administrators have entered into an agreement to provide B&M with the option to acquire up to 51 properties, after the administration trading period concludes at those sites.

Efforts to find buyers for the remaining business continue, it has been clarified that the 52 stores marked for closure are not part of any future plans for the Wilko portfolio.

The administrators’ dedicated employee team will continue to help provide support, including assisting in the statutory redundancy claims process and ensuring the dedicated employee helpline remains in place to address any employee queries. Company support systems with access to further advice and resources remain active.

The administrators continue to liaise closely with the government, agencies, unions and large employers to help create avenues to further employment opportunities for affected staff. This includes facilitating the organisation of employer workshops alongside Job Centre Plus, to be held in both Worksop and Newport. These will feature representation from other large employers, with the aim of helping affected employees find a rapid return to employment.

Edward Williams, joint administrator, said: “In the absence of viable offers for the whole business, very sadly store closures and redundancies of team members from those stores are now necessary, in addition to the already announced redundancies at the support centre and distribution centres.

“We know this has been a deeply unsettling time for everyone concerned and would like to express our gratitude to all wilko team members for the dedication and support they have continued to give the business in the most trying of circumstances.”