Last checked at 8 Nov 2016 08:52
8 November 2016
Sports Direct International plc
BIS Committee visit to Shirebrook
The Board of Sports Direct International plc ("Sports Direct" or "the Company") is delighted that members of the BIS Committee finally accepted the Company's invitation to visit the Sports Direct's warehouse on an unannounced basis (first issued during Mike Ashley's appearance at the Select Committee hearing in June).
That said, the Board is disappointed that the MPs chose to visit on a day when they knew Mike Ashley would not be on site. The BIS Committee had been informed of Mr Ashley's travel plans through to December and knew that he would not be at Shirebrook yesterday.
The Board understands that the MPs met many members of staff who expressed their positive views of Sports Direct as evidenced by Redcar MP Anna Turley's comment: "We had a positive tour around, we got to speak to a lot of the workforce and we got to see a lot of people who were very positive about the brand.".The Board understands that at an impromptu open session arranged for the workforce to share their views with the MPs in the afternoon many workers expressed their dissatisfaction with how the Company was portrayed by the Committee and the media.
As such, the Board is disappointed that reporting of a possible recording device (the veracity of which has yet to be determined) has overshadowed the truly important issues that this visit should have focused on - the true working conditions and worker satisfaction at Shirebrook.
The Board would like to make it clear that it did not authorise or have any knowledge of the possible recording device.
Commenting on yesterday's events, Mike Ashley said: "I stand firmly behind the people of Sports Direct, who through no fault of their own have been made a political football by MPs and unions.".
ENDS
Sports Direct International plc
Cameron Olsen
T. 0344 245 9200
KBA PR
Keith Bishop
T. 020 7734 9995