One of Basingstoke’s major employers has announced it is to shut one of its sites in the town putting up to 100 jobs at threat.
The De La Rue Holographics office, in Stroudley Road, on the Daneshill Industrial Estate, has been earmarked for close. The holographic arm of the business is part of the De La Rue group, which has its main office in Viables.
If the proposals go ahead, the holographics department will be relocated to Westhoughton, near Bolton over the next 18 months. A second facility at Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, is also to close with services moving to Gateshead.
The firm declined to confirm how many jobs would be lost in the move. In a statement, a spokesperson said: “De La Rue confirms that it is currently proposing to relocate two of its UK sites. This proposal is subject to employee consultation and the process is now underway.”
Union representatives from Unite said they were holding talks with the firm, the world’s largest integrated security printer and papermaker, this week to try and save as many jobs as possible by relocation. Unite spokeswoman Louisa Bull, Unite officer with national responsibility for the DLR group, said the announcement was sad news and would be a "major shock" to some workers and their families.
"Unite will be working hard to get the best deal possible for our members facing redundancy and also be exploring the company’s offer of relocation opportunities to other plants across the UK," she said. "De La Rue has indicated that it wishes to undertake the changes over the next 18 months.
"With the arrival in January this year of the new chief executive officer, Tim Cobbold and the recent announcement of a global improvement plan to return the business to an operating profit of £100 million-a-year within three years, changes had been anticipated by our members. While recognising De La Rue’s continued commitment to UK jobs, our role now will be to secure the best terms we can for our members."
Earlier this year the company, which prints money for 150 countries, announced profits were down by 25 per cent and it was looking to save £30m over the next three years. De La Rue will retain their paper making facility at Overton Mill, Overton and their Basingstoke Headquarters in Jays Close, Viables.
Liberal Democrat Deputy Group Leader for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Councillor Paula Baker, said: “I regret the loss of local jobs but do hope that De La Rue remain a significant employer in the local community. It is a shame that part of their operations will be moving as times are already hard and the loss of jobs will be strongly felt.”
