Shropshire Star

Big boost for Shropshire as Stadco and Heinz creating 280 jobs

Two-hundred-and-eighty new jobs are to be created in Shropshire, it was announced today.  Car parts factory Stadco is creating 200 posts at its Telford and Shrewsbury plants, while Heinz will take on 80 new staff in Telford.

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Stadco's Hadley Park factory and Heinz's Telford plant
Stadco's Hadley Park factory

The news came on the day that a Shropshire Star survey reveals business is on the up.

Stadco is to expand its Shropshire operations at Hadley Park in Telford and Harlescott in Shrewsbury, following a £15m investment.

The move will take its workforce at sites in Telford, Shrewsbury, Mid Wales and the Black Country to 1,100 by the end of 2015.

The news comes as our survey reveals 50 per cent of businesses feel more positive about their prospects than a year ago.

Nearly 40 per cent of firms are also planning to take on staff in the next 12 months.

Stadco UK managing director Chris Fisher said: "This is a highly significant move in the evolution of our organisation."

The announcement was welcomed by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Richard Sheehan.

The Heinz factory at Hortonwood, Telford

Meanwhile, about 80 jobs will also be created in Telford thanks to a major investment by food giant Heinz.

The company has confirmed that it plans to close a factory in Belgium and move production to Telford, where is already has the packaging site Heinz Single Service.

The factory currently employs 118 workers, producing ketchup sachets. The expansion will take that number to about 200.

The expansion would see more food products produced in Telford.

Unions at the Turnhout manufacturing site in Belgium have reacted angrily to the news and have vowed to fight it as the company goes into a period of consultation.

Heniz director Nigel Dickie said: "Our proposal is to consolidate food service manufacturing across Heinz Europe."?

He said the move was "a critical step in our plan to ensure we are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible"? but refused to say what be produced by the extra staff taken on in Telford.

Union leaders in Belgium claim the move by Heinz is purely because it is 40 per cent cheaper to employ workers in Telford than at the Turnhout plant, which currently employs 157.

But Mr Dickie said: "??This proposal has only been reached after thoroughly exploring extensive alternatives and options. Of course, during the process we will certainly continue to explore further alternatives as suggested by the employee representatives from time to time, to avoid or limit the impact of a potential closure."?

Councillor Bill McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council'??s cabinet member for Finance and Enterprise, said: "??This is fantastic news for the borough and we are delighted that Heinz is proposing to move its production to Telford.

"??This demonstrates what we have been saying -?? that Telford is a great place for any business to consider relocating to. We have excellent transport links, available land, a skilled workforce and as a council we are committed to making it as easy as possible for businesses to relocate or expand.

"??We have our Partnership For Jobs Fair happening on March 27 - ?? which Heinz is attending. Heinz is already and active member of our Business Support team'??s HR forum and we will do everything we can to assist Heinz if the proposal to relocate to Telford is approved."?

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