Shopfitting recruitment has not benefitted from a surge in high street vacancies, according to recruiters.

The Local Data Company’s (LDC) Mid-Year Report 2009 shows that 11,908 independent stores have closed this year.

Clive Bateman, director at shop fitting and interiors specialist XJS Interiors, told Recruiter: “This year shopfitting has died a death. We are very quiet on the shop fit side. We do interiors and shop fits. Last year, our interior work was fairly slack, this year there is a total turnaround. Our interior work has picked up but the shop fit side has dried up.

“On the shop fit side, it’s whether they need a refurb or hold off until next year when the market is turning.”

Stefan Brown, head of retail recruitment at ROC, adds: “From what we have seen, it is direct competitors that are able to move across. It depends on the size of the properties. You need to do the same square footage. Most of them have been like-for-like. You don’t need to spend a great deal rebranding.”