Member Article

Jobs blow at Warrington Hewlett Packard plant

Technology giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) has confirmed it is planning to cut 1,100 jobs at the start of 2014 from three UK sites – including its plant in Cheshire.

The US-based firm - which remains the world’s biggest maker of PCs - will axe 1,124 posts in total from its operations in Bracknell, Sheffield and Warrington during the first three months of the new year.

Up to 483 jobs are thought to be at risk at the firm’s Birchwood Science Park North site in north Risley, as part of restructuring plans.

HP said the proposed losses were part of a management plan that was first raised in May 2012 and expected to result in 7,000 staff losing their jobs across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The company said at that time it was looking to save £2.2bn, which it would invest in growth areas like ‘cloud’ storage technology.

Helen Jones, MP for Warrington North, said the news was “extremely disappointing and represents another blow to hard working people”.

She added: “It is particularly distressing for the families affected at this time of year. It is clear that the Chancellor’s optimistic rhetoric about improvements in the economy are premature and not being felt in Warrington.”

The leader of Warrington Borough Council, Cllr Terry O’Neill said: “We’re mindful of the distress that this will cause to any redundant employees and their families, and it’s unfortunate for Warrington as a whole that the company is considering local job losses.

“We will work with the company and the unions to mitigate the potential damage, and we hope the company will be able to help redundant employees to re-train and to find work elsewhere.

“For its part, Warrington Borough Council will continue to do everything in its power to help attract new business and new jobs to Warrington.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .