JOBS COULD be lost in Telford when defence giant BAE Systems concentrates its vehicle operations in the town, it was today revealed.

BAE Systems is to consolidate its workforce at its Telford site. There are 180 staff there but some will lose their jobs to accommodate staff from the firm’s other UK plants. Bosses today announced a consultation on the loss of 70 jobs at its Wolverhampton site.

A further 160 are to be lost from other bases including in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Farnborough in Hampshire, and Bristol.

They said while Telford would retain a similar number of staff to its current operation, which provides support services to the British Army and other armed forces internationally, the news was not necessarily all good for its Shropshire workforce.

The company is aiming to keep a balanced workforce, which could mean that while some skilled workers are drafted to Telford from elsewhere in the country, others in Shropshire could lose their jobs.

Jan Söderström, managing director of BAE Systems’ vehicles business, said: “We have consistently said that we must reduce costs to remain competitive and secure a future for the business.

“We are creating a more efficient business to ensure we are the right size and have the right mix of skills to meet current and future customer needs.

“We regret the impact that this will have on our employees. We will work with employees and trade unions to explore ways of mitigating these proposed job losses, and do everything we can to support our people throughout this process. We will continue to meet all planned deliveries to our customers throughout this transition.”

BAE does not foresee further contracts for new-build armoured vehicles arising as a result of cuts in MoD spending, meaning that fresh problems could arise at the end of its current contract to build Terrier vehicles in Newcastle, where 400 staff are employed, in 2014.

The Wolverhampton site is expected to close at the end of 2011 on completion of existing contracts, and the bridging engineering capabilities currently held in the Black Country will move to Telford.

By Business Editor Thom Kennedy