‘We have to lay off staff to improve quality standards’
A LUXURY lodge firm in Gwynedd has temporarily laid off staff as they cut production in a bid to raise quality standards.
Cambrian Park and Leisure Homes employs around 100 workers at its site in Porthmadog, supplying high class lodges to holiday parks around the UK.
But general manager Stephen Crawford says the last six months has seen its build standards fall below what they expect.
He says this has led them to taking the “difficult decision” to temporarily lay off staff and cut production levels so they can put a greater focus on quality. Staff were told last Tuesday, with one worker saying it was “out of the blue”.
There are around 25 out of the 100 workers that are affected.
Cambrian hope to bring back all the staff affected over the coming months and made clear it was not related to the standard of work of the staff laid off.
Mr Crawford said: “We have taken the decision to lay-off a number of staff and make a small cut to production while we focus on quality.
“It is not a good day but we are being pro-active rather than reactive.
“We have a good reputation for quality but we have not reached those standards in the last six months.
“We have now taken this decision to make a small cut in production to ensure that we are hitting those standards.
“We see this as taking a step back so that we can move forward and grow in the future. We want to bring those people back as soon as possible.
“I know it is hard but I think they understand the reasons the decision has been taken.
“They will be taken back gradually over the coming weeks and months.”
Cambrian was saved from administration in 2017 after racking up debts and suffering cash flow problems.