Telford power tool firm will axe 61 jobs
EXCLUSIVE: Power tools maker Makita today announced 61 redundancies at its Telford manufacturing plant.
A downturn in orders in the second half of the financial year lies behind the shock announcement.
It is the second blow to the county's jobs market in two days after 69 people lost their jobs at Discovery Foils in Bridgnorth yesterday.
The 61 job losses will come at the Hortonwood Industrial Estate manufacturing facility, which makes a number of the company's cordless drills.
Richard Annett, general manager of administration at the firm, said: "After careful consideration Makita Manufacturing Europe believes it is necessary to make a number of redundancies within the company.
"The business has experienced ongoing sustained pressure, with the prolonged recession and extreme operating conditions which has ultimately resulted in a downturn in orders for the second half of this financial year."
He said they will try to avoid compulsory redundancies.
The move will bring the number of people employed at the plant to around 290, and the company says the move will allow the firm to build for the future, with new models planned for early next year.
Makita's Telford plant is the only full-production facility for power tools in the UK and has been running construction on a number of the firm's cordless power tools since 1991.
Yesterday, administrators laid off 69 of the remaining 81 staff at Discovery Foils in Bridgnorth, as negotiations continue with major customers.
Latest figures have shown that the number of jobseekers in Shropshire had fallen to a four-and-a-half-year low, and in Telford & Wrekin to its lowest level since early 2009.
