Tyre firm’s investment was a blow for London workers
THERE was good news for Burton in 1971 as tyre giant Pirelli confirmed it was transferring most of its office activities from its Euston Road premises in London to the town.
The transfer was set to take place in April 1972 with the company saying the move would integrate more closely Pirelli’s production and sales divisions in order to develop an even more effective business organisation.
The company, however, would maintain a London office with its secretarial, legal and some financial services still based in the capital.
Speaking in November 1971, the firm’s managing director Antonio Rossetti said: “Our company’s tremendous growth over the last 10 years has brought with it considerable changes in the way in which we operate.
“The integration of our tyre and general rubber goods sales teams with the corresponding production divisions at the one Burton location will play a major role in the continued progress of Pirelli Ltd.
“As well as improving still further company efficiency we shall be able to offer an even better service to our tyre and general rubber goods customers throughout the UK.”
A total of 70 jobs which were London-based would transfer to Burton. However, it was acknowledged a proportion of the London staff would not make the move to Burton and this would create employment opportunities in the town.
Temporary offices would be built at the firm’s Beech Road site for any London staff who made the move as plans for a permanent office block in Burton would not be completed until April 1974.
Pirelli’s Burton factory opened in 1929 when 300 people were employed in the manufacture of pneumatic tyres and solid truck and bus tyres.
The company’s footwear division then opened in 1934 and by 1971 was the largest producer of slippers in the UK.
The first major expansion of the tyre division took place in 1954 and was completed three years later. But in 1961 a second major expansion programme took place which resulted in the production of Pirelli’s Cinturato tyres – a brand still in production today.