Jobs will go at hob firm

Hundreds of jobs are to go at a Midland ceramic hob manufacturer after administrators failed to find a buyer for the struggling company.

About 130 production workers were made redundant from Ceramaspeed, Wolverley, near Kidderminster, on Friday and 70 others are due to leave at the end of this week.

Some 100 office staff also face losing their jobs as the administrators Grant Thornton, of Birmingham, say they have been unable to "secure the co-operation of Ceramaspeed's main customers".

A statement issued today said some would be kept on until the New Year to help wind down the business.

Ceramaspeed, which makes heating elements for cookers and employed about 300 people, went into administration last Monday following a fall in demand.

The firm which has its headquarters in Oldington in Kidderminster, announced earlier this year that it was planing to move production to Poland to save money and aimed to leave just 100 people in Kidderminster.

It blamed difficulties on the high cost of manufacturing in Britain compared to Eastern Europe.

Neil Tombs, administrator and recovery and reorganisation partner at Grant Thornton, in Birmingham, said: "Despite our efforts, we have not been able to secure the co-operation of Ceramaspeed's main customers, resulting in the need to wind down trading in the UK arm of Ceramaspeed.

"Unfortunately, it is, therefore, necessary to make the majority of the employees in Kidderminster redundant. The employees affected by this have been informed.

"A number of people will be retained for a short period to assist with the completion of work in progress and the orderly closure of the facility."

Ceramaspeed was founded in 1973 by scientist and entrepreneur Joseph McWilliams.