60 jobs go in Stadco shock

Up to 60 jobs will be axed at one of Shropshire's largest car parts suppliers by the end of next month, company bosses revealed today.

Stadco Automotive, which has five UK plants and one in Germany, has told staff that the redundancies will hit the workforce at its headquarters on Harlescott Lane in Shrewsbury by July 27.

The company is now in a 30-day consultation period with union leaders and its 400 Shrewsbury employees.

Plants in other locations, including Telford and Powys, are unaffected.

Officials at Stadco, which supplies products for the car industry, said they were cutting back on production.

A worker at the Shrewsbury plant, who asked not to be named, said: "We've been told there's going to be at least 60 redundancies and that it is being done on a points scheme so that people who have been at the company longer have a better chance of keeping their job.

"It has come like a bolt from the blue and no-one is happy because we were told it was a job for life and when we had a meeting about six months ago they actually said work was going up."

He added: "Apparently if you get a letter it means you're being made redundant so everyone is nervous and down at the moment."

Stadco said it had created more than 180 jobs over the past two years.

A representative for the company, said: "Stadco will regretfully lose an amount of volume production on July 27 that is likely to lead to a number of redundancies at its Shrewsbury plant.

"It is estimated up to 60 jobs are at risk, although the company is hoping to reduce the impact of redundancies through consultation.

"Stadco is working closely with unions, employees and local agencies to assist those affected."

Stadco is a key supplier for Jaguar Land Rover, producing parts for the XF and XK models, as well as Land Rover Defenders, Freelanders and Range Rovers.