A Merseyside-based bathroom retailer has launched a major recruitment drive and business expansion, creating new jobs for the region.

Victorian Plumbing is citing the trend for lockdown home renovation projects as the driving force behind the growth.

The company is looking to increase its headcount by 20% in the next three months as well as investing in an additional 50,000 sq ft of warehouse space to handle increased orders. The company has seen a significant increase in business over the lockdown period. 

Victorian Plumbing is looking to hire across all areas of the business, but with a particular focus on logistics and customer service roles. The jobs expansion is a welcome boost after figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed that the region’s unemployment rate is 7% - higher than at the height of the financial crisis in 2007-2008.  

Victorian Plumbing’s Managing Director, Stephnie Judge, said the company had seen huge growth during lockdown.

Wirral Globe: Victorian Plumbing Managing Director, Stephnie JudgeVictorian Plumbing Managing Director, Stephnie Judge

“There has been an increased appetite for home renovations during lockdown and investing in a bathroom revamp has been a key project for many,” she said. 

UK consumers have spent a whopping £55 billion on home improvements since March, with the average homeowner spending £4,035.70 on home renovations.

Far from being just something to do on a rainy weekend, DIY has now become a way of life for many UK homeowners. And this trend looks set to continue. Many consumers used money saved from not going on holiday or going out during lockdown to finance such home improvement projects. 

Although lockdown has eased, it seems the appetite for further home improvements remains, with research suggesting that almost one in five are planning to do some form of DIY soon and 20% looking to renovate a room or bathroom.

“Consumers are revamping their home for a number of reasons” says Stephnie. “For some, savings achieved during lockdown have meant they have the cash to invest in their homes. For others, lockdown gave them the additional time to work on such projects and reminded them of the benefits of DIY.” 

Meanwhile as lockdown has eased and the housing market resumes, it seems consumers will continue to invest in their homes with bathrooms as strong a selling point as ever. 

Stephnie added: “We are seeing consumers realise the benefits of renovations such as a new bathroom or simply adding a downstairs toilet or seperate shower to increase the appeal of their homes to potential buyers.”

To check out the latest employment vacancies at Victoria Plumbing, click here.