 It almost beggars belief, however, research just published by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has revealed there have actually been nearly 8,000 job losses across the UK manufacturing sector since Jan 1 2007 already. It might explain why so many visitors have been flooding to this site, desperate to find constructive support and help.
While the UK economy as a whole saw above average growth in Q4 2006, the UK manufacturing industry experienced a decline with figures from the BCC QES for Q4 2006 revealing a sharp fall in export orders and sales. Increasing wage costs, a strong pound and cheaper imports continue to put UK manufacturers under increasing pressure to either downsize or relocate.
David Frost, Director General of the BCC said: “2007 is looking ominous for the manufacturing sector. There has been a relentless decline in the number of jobs which it provides in the UK economy and this shows no sign of abating. Manufacturers are operating in a fragile environment - as well as operating within a complex and burdensome regulatory regime, UK businesses must now compete with rising interest rates, stronger sterling, and low-cost imports. Many are struggling in the competitive global environment with the result on local communities being the loss of jobs and financial resources in regions of the UK in which opportunities can often be hard to come by.”
The two interest rate rises, which, were used to stem increasing inflationary pressures in the UK economy, have added to the difficulties that UK manufacturers face with the higher value sterling pound making it more challenging for them to compete on the domestic and international markets. For some this has prompted them to either relocate or shut up shop completely – taking jobs for locals with them.
David Frost added “The impact of job losses on local communities is devastating - structural unemployment, ghost towns as young people move to find employment elsewhere, and the reduction in economic growth and output in certain regions; the list goes on."
The total job losses of the following companies is 7,729.
- Peugeot in Coventry - 2300 jobs
- Shorts in Belfast – 654 jobs
- NCR cash machine manufacturer, to go in Dundee - 650 jobs
- Bird's Eye in Hull - 490 jobs
- TMD Friction in Cleckheaton – 270 jobs
- Technicolor in Cwmbran – 270 jobs
- Premier Foods in Kings Lynn, Norfolk and Ashford, Kent - 450 jobs
- Simclar Group in Ayrshire - 420 jobs
- GKN Sheepbridge Stokes Ltd in Chesterfield - 420 jobs
- Technicolor in Cwmbran - 310 jobs
- Widney Cabs in Birmingham - 300 jobs
- Burberry in Rhondda, South Wales - 300 jobs
- ARC glass in Sunderland – 240 jobs
- COSi in Littlehampton - 240 jobs
- Grampian Country Food Group in Aberdeen - 111 jobs
- Cincinnati in Birmingham – 90 jobs
- British Polythene Industries PLC in Scunthorpe- 39 jobs
- Dumfries Rubber Manufacturing company in Dumfries - 18 jobs
- Cookson Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham - 64 jobs and in Wrexham - 16 jobs
- DS Smith in Dundee -16 jobs
If you know anyone who works for these companies, and you think it might help, do please tell them about the New Life Network.
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