County jobs saved by BAE U-turn
More than 140 jobs have been saved in Shropshire after one of the county's biggest manufacturing plants announced a dramatic U-turn. More than 140 jobs have been saved in Shropshire after one of the county's biggest manufacturing plants announced a dramatic U-turn. Defence giant BAE Systems announced this year 211 people were to lose their jobs due to the closure of a factory site at Hadley Castle in Telford. The company said 144 of those affected would be offered the chance to transfer to Newcastle. But BAE spokesman Mike Sweeney today said a new support centre would instead be created in Donnington to save the 144 jobs. However, the remainder of the jobs will still be lost. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Defence giant BAE Systems announced this year 211 people were to lose their jobs due to the closure of a factory site at Hadley Castle in Telford.
The company said 144 of those affected would be offered the chance to transfer to Newcastle.
But BAE spokesman Mike Sweeney today said a new support centre would instead be created in Donnington to save the 144 jobs. However, the remainder of the jobs will still be lost.
He said: "In April the company announced a plan to reduce its workforce in the UK by 500, along with the closure of the Guildford, Leeds, and Telford sites.
"Since that announcement, we have reviewed further our business in the light of the UK MoD's publication of its Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) sector strategy, and the need to reduce costs further. As a result we have updated the plans announced in April to recognise the AFV sector strategy's focus on the Defence Support Group.
"In order to facilitate continued and closer cooperation with DSG on repair, overhaul and upgrade programmes, 144 jobs at Telford will transfer to a new support centre in the Donnington area, rather than to Newcastle as had previously been envisaged."
