Victoria Beckham is looking for a social media manager for her fashion label – in the same week she controversially furloughed 30 staff members, it emerged today.
An advert for the role, to ‘run global strategy’, was posted just days before it was revealed that the former Spice Girl would be taking advantage of the government’s job retention scheme to furlough a quarter of her employees – despite having a staggering family fortune of £335 million.
Mrs Beckham, whose handbag collection is thought to be worth £1.5 million alone, sent letters to the 30 workers explaining that they would be paid 80 per cent of their salaries by the government, in line with Chancellor Rishi Sunak‘s scheme to help firms during the pandemic.
However, an advert posted to LinkedIn has revealed that she is attempting to hire a social media manager for her struggling fashion label, despite furloughing staff to save money.
Though the salary of the role is not advertised, it requires candidates to have ‘significant’ experience within the fashion industry and be able to work with ‘high profile individuals’.
It is the latest shift in company personnel, after several long-serving members left Mrs Beckham’s team.
Victoria Beckham is hiring a new social media manager for her fashion brand, despite furloughing staff members
Though the salary of the role is not advertised, it requires candidates to have ‘significant’ experience within the fashion industry and be able to work with ‘high profile individuals’
Longstanding fashion PR strategist Natalie Lewis left her role earlier this month, having worked with Mrs Beckham for more than 12 years.
Head Of Communications Bella Blenkinsopp is also moving on, but leaves on friendly terms with the Beckhams, who have been ‘very supportive’ of her move.
It is unclear how senior the new position is, or how the appointment will affect current Global Social Media Manager Sophie Dewaele.
It was earlier reported that the staff departures were ‘blows’ to the empire, though sources insist the situation is far from dramatic.
A source said: ‘Natalie and Victoria remain close personal friends. And as some of the team transition out of the business they continue to support and work with Victoria and will do through the next few months.’
Initially, it was also reported that another long-term member of staff, Nadine Gough, had resigned, which is not believed to be the case.
The ad is sure to raise more questions on Mrs Beckham’s decision to use the government’s scheme.
The former pop star was slammed for taking advantage of the taxpayer-funded scheme, rather than using her own substantial wealth.
Mrs Beckham has recently bought a £20 million penthouse with husband David in Miami, where he launched his US football team.
As well as the furlough, Mrs Beckham is understood to be topping up the wages of the staff in an ‘enhanced package’ by paying the remaining 20 per cent – though she is not obliged to do so.
Victoria Beckham has furloughed 30 staff at her struggling fashion label – despite having a staggering family fortune of £335 million. Pictured with husband David and daughter Harper
Employees in the marketing department and customer services have been affected, as well as staff at her Mayfair shop which closed after lockdown was announced.
A spokesman for Mrs Beckham previously confirmed that staff will be furloughed for two months ‘so far’.
MailOnline has contacted her team for comment on the job advert.
Under the scheme, staff will remain employed and the fashion brand will be able to claim back 80 per cent of their wages from the government, up to £2,500 a month for each employee.
It could be used to cover the wage bill until the end of June.
Two weeks ago, Mrs Beckham and her ex-footballer husband David splashed out £17 million on a penthouse in Miami to add to their impressive property portfolio, which includes a £25 million mansion in Holland Park, West London, and a £6 million barn conversion in the Cotswolds, where the family has been living during the lockdown.
A source close to the family told The Mail on Sunday: ‘One minute she and David are posting pictures of very expensive bottles of red wine on Instagram, the next she’s using the furlough scheme, funded by taxpayers.
‘She has also been seen clapping the brave NHS workers, but by using the Government scheme she is taking public money when she has hundreds of millions in the bank. It seems very ill-advised.’
Mrs Beckham’s eponymous company, based in Hammersmith, West London, has not made a profit since it launched in 2008.
In 2018, it suffered losses of £12.3 million. The year before that, Mrs Beckham lost £10.3 million, but the business was propped up by her 44-year-old husband.
Despite the clearly unprofitable business model, Mrs Beckham is determined to keep the label going.
Mrs Beckham is understood to be topping up their wages in an ‘enhanced package’ by paying the remaining 20 per cent – though she is not obliged to do so. Victoria Beckham’s store, Hong Kong
And the business’s poor performance hasn’t stopped her and David from living an ostentatious lifestyle, with much of it flaunted to their fans via social media.
In January they were seen swigging a £2,000 bottle of Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru red wine while dining at the exclusive Chez L’Ami Louis restaurant in Paris.
Mrs Beckham has a collection of Birkin handbags, which are understood to range from £10,000 to £80,000, and regularly uses private jets.
Last month, just two weeks before lockdown, the Beckhams reportedly spent £100,000 on a 21st birthday bash for their eldest child, Brooklyn.
Rapper Stormzy performed at the lavish affair, which was understood to have been held in a marquee in the garden of their Oxfordshire home, close to celebrity haunt, Soho Farmhouse.
When news of the furlough emerged, a spokesman for Mrs Beckham said: ‘We are working hard to ensure our much-valued Victoria Beckham team are protected during this unsettled time by keeping our business healthy.
‘Having carefully assessed all our options, we made the decision to furlough a proportion of staff on an enhanced package.’