Hundreds lose jobs in closure (From Worcester News)

Hundreds lose jobs in closure

1:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in News

HUNDREDS of workers have been made redundant after logistics giant DHL shut its Droitwich distribution centre. The operation, which caters for supermarket chain Morrisons, has moved to a new centre in Somerset.

The move affected 330 jobs at the Berry Hill industrial estate site, with staff given the choice of relocating to Somerset or losing their jobs.

Workers who could not relocate were offered training by the firm to help them find new employment.

A DHL spokesman said: “We can confirm that the Berry Hill site closed on January 29 and a number of employees are continuing with training programmes at college.”

DHL has not confirmed the number of employees made redundant or how many took up the chance to relocate.

However, the Unite union’s regional officer Simon Powell said he believed that about 300 people had lost their jobs and only a few key management staff chose to move.

He said: “This is very bad news for the town. The vast majority of the core workforce is now unemployed.”

“We are disappointed that DHL wasn’t able to find other viable work options in the local area.”

A specialist taskforce, including advisers from Wychavon District Council, was launched in October in an attempt to lessen the impact on Droitwich families and the town’s economy after the decision to close the site.