New jobs for staff at blaze company
Wednesday 19th August 2009, 12:11PM BST.
The fire-hit Skymark site
Nearly two thirds of the work force at a Leominster packaging plant gutted by fire in June have been found other work.
John Turner, managing director of Skymark Packaging, said loyalty to the firm’s employees was paramount.
More than 150 people were evacuated as firefighters battled the huge blaze off Southern Avenue on June 17. A 400-metre cordon was set up as a large black plume of smoke rose above the town and householders were told to leave their homes.
Today Mr Turner said ma- ny staff had been found other work, but there would be some redundancies.
He said: “We have two other sites in Ilkeston and Scunthorpe and we have 70 people employed of the 110 who worked at Leominster.
“They are employed at other sites and through sub-contractors that we have taken on. We are currently about to install an emergency press at the Scunthorpe factory and that helps to secure the jobs.”
Mr Turner also said the firm has taken on temporary office accommodation in Leominster, which has about 35 people working there.
The company hopes to get a temporary production line back into operation and the situation will be reassessed after Christmas.
Mr Turner said: “It will take us between six and eight months to rebuild so there will be some redundancies.
The Leominster site is be-ing cleared and the firm is in discussions with the council.
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