Aventis planning jobs cuts in Cheshire
Reports suggest that up to 230 people are set to lose their jobs at Aventis Pharma, in Holmes Chapel. Almost half the workforce of 555 people could be shed over the next two years as part of a major restructuring of the business designed to ensure its long-term future at the South Cheshire site.
Reports suggest that up to 230 people are set to lose their jobs at Aventis Pharma, in Holmes Chapel. Almost half the workforce of 555 people could be shed over the next two years as part of a major restructuring of the business designed to ensure its long-term future at the South Cheshire site.
The proposed reorganisation, currently subject to a 90-day consultation period, involves the sale of the manufacturing rights of a number of older products, along with measures to reduce costs and improve productivity.
If the reorganisation goes ahead it will result in up to 230 redundancies over the next two years. Site director John Sullivan told employees at a meeting before Christmas that the proposals were developed as part of a long-term strategy to enable it to attract new products.
Sullivan said: 'The pharmaceutical industry is facing increasing cost challenges throughout the world and the Holmes Chapel site must become more competitive if it is to attract newly developed products.
'We are confident that we can secure a sound, long-term future if we can reduce our costs to a level that is appropriate with the volumes and value of products we will be manufacturing.
'We deeply regret that the proposals involve the loss of jobs and will provide a full programme of support for all affected employees. We are committed to treating all our people with dignity and respect as we make the changes necessary to prepare the Holmes Chapel site to meet the challenges of the future.'
The Holmes Chapel site employs 555 people in manufacturing and scientific research roles. The global company develops innovative prescription drugs and human vaccines and employs more than 70,000 people around the world.
Despite the redundancies, officials at Holmes Chapel are still considering a multi-million pound investment to expand newer production facilities on the site to encourage the manufacture of new respiratory medicines. Aventis won planning permission for the new laboratory in November, but officials have not yet decided whether to go ahead with the development.
Source: The Sentinal, Stoke-On-Trent, UK