Ceramics jobs go as site shut
A Stafford ceramics firm is to close, with the loss of 34 jobs, to save on manufacturing costs.
A Stafford ceramics firm is to close, with the loss of 34 jobs, to save on manufacturing costs.
Unitec Ceramics Ltd, in Doxey Road, Doxey, will cease production on January 31 and is making all employees at the site redundant.
Bosses say the firm – formerly Universal Grinding and now part of the UCM Group – is moving its business to Germany due to rising costs in the UK.
Director of operations Jim Butters said: "Regrettably, in view of the significant increases in manufacturing costs in the UK, when the majority of its products are exported, the company has been forced to consider the closure of the Stafford site and relocation of its business.
"The company has now completed consultation with employee and local trade union representatives which considered ways of avoiding the proposed redundancies, reducing the number of them and limiting the consequences.
"The outcome of the consultation process has concluded with agreement that no viable alternative to the proposal of relocating to Germany could be found.
"Employees have been offered the opportunity to transfer with the business or take up open positions within the group. However, the majority have elected to receive the company enhanced redundancy payment terms."
Machinery is currently being stripped out of the plant to be shipped out to Germany.
Some staff at the company have worked there for decades and have been devastated by news of the closure. One woman, whose friend works at the site, said: "One man has worked there 38 years and has never worked anywhere else. It is a real blow, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. People are worried whether they'll be able to find another job."
Thousands of job losses were announced across the country this month, with a number of Midlands firms among those shedding staff. Yesterday it was revealed that Dairy Farmers of Britain is closing its dairy at Fole, near Uttoxeter, with the loss of 246 jobs. Around 200 jobs are also going at Cannock engineering company ThyssenKrupp Tallent, which supplies parts to the car industry.
