270 engineering jobs at risk in Loughborough

Some 270 jobs are at risk at Loughborough engineering business Brush Generators.

The firm has started consultations with staff over the job cuts after demand for its gas and steam powered generators had been affected by a turn towards sustainable power.

Yesterday (1 February), 270 shop floor workers were sent home.

A statement from Brush read: “The Brush Group, a manufacturer of power generation products, intends to restructure its generator manufacturing capacity as a result of the continued deterioration of the power generation market and a subsequent decline in demand.

“The company has entered into consultation with its workforce about the future of its 2-pole turbo-generator production at its Loughborough site.

“The consultations will affect up to 270 positions in Loughborough out of a total UK workforce of 790.

“Traditional power markets have seen a significant decline in recent years, driven by the overall growth in renewables.

“This has led to a fall in demand for the company’s generators and a substantial overcapacity in global generator manufacturing.

“Sales at Brush peaked in 2012 at 208 units, dwindling to 70 sales in 2017.

“Of the 2017 sales, a mere 21 were built in Loughborough.

“The other activities at the Loughborough site, including the transformer manufacturing business, as well as its other facilities in Wales and Derbyshire, will be unaffected following the turbo-generator restructuring.

“The Loughborough site will also maintain an engineering team and R&D capabilities.”

Brush has been in Loughborough for 125 years.

Unite national officer Linda McCulloch said: “Unite will be fighting to save jobs and protect our members’ interests. This is a highly skilled workforce who contributes massively to the local economy and wider UK engineering and manufacturing sector.

“Offshoring their jobs will deny the local community of decent well paid work and further hollow out the region’s engineering skill base.

“Unite is far from convinced of the case behind this move and will be challenging the rationale during the consultation.

“Over the coming days and weeks, Unite will be giving maximum support to our members through this distressing time as we fight to protect jobs and skills.”

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