The Island’s MP, Bob Seely, has said that it is ‘very sad news’ that up to 70 jobs are to be lost at Gurit in Newport.
It was initially thought that the Newport-based factory would be unaffected by the news that ‘prepreg’ production is to be moved to Spain. However, it has been confirmed that 70 jobs are to be lost here on the Isle of Wight.
Bob Seely has said:
“This is very sad news and I will be seeking a meeting with managers at Gurit to fully understand the thinking behind this decision, how they intend to limit the redundancies, and, crucially, what support there will be to help those who will lose employment.
“Gurit remains a big employer on the Island and it is a comfort to know other parts of the business based here will not be affected. My hope is the number of job losses will be kept to a minimum as people leave and other opportunities within the company arise.
“I do understand businesses must look at their operations and sometimes this can lead to job losses, but when it happens it’s always a very unsettling time and my thoughts are with those who will now undergo the consultation process the company has set up.
“In the meantime, I will liaise with the council to find out their thoughts and if there can be extra support for those who do lose their jobs.”
