200 jobs at risk as opticians sets its sights on closure

200 jobs are at risk at Aston Labs in Birmingham after Specsavers told staff it plans to close the lens manufacturing site.

It has launched a consultation with staff at the site at Holford Industrial Park as the company proposes to absorb the work into its other sites around Europe.

Specsavers’ supply chain director Sean Lawe said: “Regretfully, we have announced that Aston Labs, a Specsavers-owned facility providing optical lenses to stores in the UK and Ireland, is being considered for possible closure.

“We have entered a period of collective consultation with those affected in order to discuss the proposals and whether redundancies can be avoided or mitigated.

“If there are any job losses, we will offer full redundancy packages and support including making every effort to offer alternative employment within the wider Specsavers business.”

The most recent accounts for the Aston Labs part of the business, for the year to February 2015, showed a pre-tax profit of £1.35m on revenues of £25.2m.