Director of people partnering at Pets at Home, Jane Beresford revealed that the group currently has more than 1,000 vacancies available.

Speaking on a panel at the Retail Trust Leader's Summit, Ms Bereford discussed the difficulties retailers are facing when recruiting and retaining staff as well as the importance of flexible working.

She said: We were extremely fortunate to be able to continue to trade during the coronavirus pandemic - we are doing really well at the moment but are still finding it difficult to recruit the staff numbers that we need.

"We currently have over 1,000 vacancies right across the group - that's in retail, distribution and head office, so that demonstrates the challenge that we still face."

Although the pet supplies specialist which has stores in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Cirencester performed well throughout the last 18 months, it is still facing staffing issues.

"Our staff turnover dropped dramatically during the pandemic. It was 32 per cent before the pandemic and dropped to 18 per cent during it - but is now starting to crawl back up again and is sitting at around 25 per cent.

"We know people are looking at their work-life balance and it's become more important to them over the last year and a half.

"We have seen flexible working requests rise by 50 per cent across the business - and that's the case across all demographics, including the more traditionally male-heavy workforces such as warehousing."

She added that Pets at Home remains committed to listening to its workers, seeing what they want and offering flexibility, job satisfaction and stability.

This discussion follows the news that rival Jollyes will be closed on Boxing Day and New Year's Day this year - to thank its employees for their hard work throughout the pandemic and allow them time to spend with their families.