Plymouth factory to close in August putting 54 jobs at risk
More than 50 people in Plymouth will lose their jobs at the end of August as the CEO of a manufacturing site has announced it is closing down.
Plymouth Community Homes has announced the organisation's commercial manufacturing unit at Prince Rock Depot, known as PCH Manufacturing, will shut down on 31 August.
The closure will result in the loss of 54 jobs, which the company is hoping can be saved in other parts of the business.
In a statement the company's CEO said: "This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly, as we are all acutely aware of the impact of this on the individuals and families affected, though are hopeful a number of these can be redeployed across other PCH activities.
"The Manufacturing Unit transferred to PCH in 2009, along with the housing stock, and was initially involved in supplying component parts in the work needed to bring former council houses up to Decent Homes standards. As this came to an end, we needed to move progressively into external sales to supplement the internal business.
"Although we have great products made by skilled people it has been very difficult for our relatively small company to compete in a highly competitive national market. Then, more recently, the significant impact of Covid-19 means we have been unable to complete orders or secure sales for the future in order for us to have a viable business going forward.
"The Board has received both legal and specialist advice and based on this has had to take the difficult decision to close, as PCH is unable to financially subsidise a commercial business."
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Mr Clark said customers with existing orders and outstanding work will be contacted.
He has also assured the employees at risk of losing their jobs that the company will "try to minimise the need for redundancies" by placing them elsewhere in the business where it is possible.
PCH Manufacturing was previously part of Plymouth City Council but became a commercial trading company on Macadam Road in 2009.
The company is responsible for installing benches and plaques on the Barbican, signs in Drake's Circus and most notably windows and doors in social housing properties in the city.
The 54 people currently employed there are furloughed under the Government scheme.