Home improvement giant B&Q has begun a recruitment drive for kitchen showroom staff after deciding to concentrate on instore design and product selection, and not on fitting.

It follows the decision earlier this year to move away from offering installation services, when it said that just 10 percent of kitchen sales resulted in the consumer using B&Q's fitting service.

In a press release announcing that it would hire 800 people to work in the KBB showroom element of its warehouse-style stores, B&Q said the decision "paves the way for customers to deal with just one person instore, making the process simpler and the experience faster."

Earlier this year B&Q consulted installation employees as it looked to walk back an earlier plan to build a complete supply-and-fit kitchen operation.

It said today (Jul. 26) it was continuing to support self-employed installers and was arranging for them to have free membership of the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI).