BRIDGEND CLOSURE?

Ford have officially begun a consultation process with its unions regarding the potential closure of the Bridgend Engine Plant in South Wales. The reason for this is cited as a move to create a more efficient and focused business operation across Europe as a whole; unfortunately the underutilisation of the Bridgend plant is a significant factor, with the impending ending of manufacturing engines for Jaguar Land Rover, as well as the previousgeneration Ford GTDi 1.5-litre engine reaching the end of its lifecycle. Global demand for the new-generation Ford GTDi and Pfi 1.5-litre engines is shrinking, which means that at predicted manufacturing volumes the plant faces a cost disadvantage compared with other Ford facilities building the same engines. If the plant does close, it will happen by late 2020, and Ford are keen

to highlight that employees will be offered a separation programme which enables opportunities to relocate to other Ford plants in the UK, as well as support in pursuing new careers, retraining, or starting their own businesses.

“As a major employer in the UK for more than a century, we know that closing Bridgend would be difficult for many of our employees,” said Ford of Europe president, Stuart Rowley. “We recognise the effects it would have on their families and the communities where they live and, as a responsible employer we are proposing a plan that would help to ease the impact.”

The Bridgend plant opened in 1977, and today employs around 1,700 people – 400 of whom have already signed a voluntary separation agreement and will leave by the end of the year.