Job losses as mop firm moves

Jobs are being axed at a Black Country mop maker which is moving part of its production to China – casting doubt on the future of other workers at the firm.

Scott Young Research, which supplies the NHS and fast food chains Burger King and McDonald's, is shedding 16 workers on permanent and temporary contracts.

Bosses at the firm, which won a Queen's award for enterprise, today did not rule out other redundancies but said there were no plans to shut the Lye operation, which employs about 160.

One worker, who did not want to be named, said staff were told a year ago there may be job losses but there was no further news until redundancy notices were handed out a week ago.

The source said: "We knew there was a chance we would lose our jobs and although it is a big blow the main thing that has annoyed us is that they are only moving production abroad because it is so cheap."

Finance director David Deo said consultation continued and added: "The company will remain in Lye and will continue to manufacture. We have always been in Lye and want to remind here as many of our workers live locally and walk to work. Some work is in the process of being outsourced to China to a company we are setting up there."