Relocation welcomed by East Riding leaders, but jobs of employees must be protected, says city’s MP
A HULL MP says all jobs need to be protected in the move of Smith & Nephew from its birthplace in Hull to Melton West Business Park, eight miles away, in 2024.
The firm has a presence in more than 100 countries and is a member of the FTSE100, all a world away from its origins as a humble pharmacy. Globally, it employs over 15,000 people, of which around 800 are based at the facility in Hull.
Emma Hardy, Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle, which covers the existing Smith & Nephew site, referenced the cost of living crisis and said her focus would be on “making sure everyone keeps their jobs when they open this new site”.
Meanwhile, David Davis, Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden, has said he is “delighted” with Smith & Nephew’s plans to relocate to his constituency.
Ms Hardy said: “Hull was the birthplace of Smith & Nephew. It’s where the company started. It has all its history, it has all its heritage there on this site in Hull.
“But, I understand they wanted 23 acres and, of course, you can’t find 23 acres within the boundary of Hull, it’s simply not there. My focus right now is going to be making sure everyone keeps their jobs when they open this new site.”
The Hull West and Hessle MP added more on social media, including that she would seek “a positive future” for the Hull facility.
She said: “With the rising cost of living, the priority now must be to protect all jobs and I will continue to work with the unions and Smith & Nephew to try to achieve this and to have a positive future for the Hull site.”
The Labour Party group on Hull City Council called the move to Melton West Business Park
“disgraceful” on Twitter and said that the firm had “betrayed” the city.
It said: “Many local ward residents and the whole city have been betrayed by the (now) US controlled Smith & Nephew’s disgraceful decision to move from the City of Hull.
“We know of many residents who walk to work, whose jobs must now be at risk or they face huge expense and time getting to a new site miles away as fuel prices rocket. We do not feel Smith & Nephew were serious about development on local sites and staying loyal to the generations of people and the city that enabled them to be successful. Disgraceful.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said “jobs will be protected”. Guildhall officials had worked with the company to try to keep the firm within the city, but its chief executive Deepak Nath told the council leader there was no room in Hull for a new plant and research facility.
Cllr Ross said: “The company has also committed to working with us to ensure its current site plays a key role in meeting the city’s future employment needs, and this will be central to the redevelopment of the wider English Street area.
“While we would obviously have preferred a site within the city boundary, and the council did everything it could to try to make that possible, the most important thing is that jobs will be protected by the short move to a location that still enables Smith & Nephew to play a crucial role in the local economy.”
East Riding Council leader Cllr Jonathan Owen, leader of East Riding Council, welcomed Smith & Nephew’s decision to move to Melton West Business Park, saying: “We welcome the news that a blue chip company like Smith & Nephew has pledged their future to the area, planning permission will be needed for development of the site and once an application has been submitted it will be dealt with through the proper process.”
David Davis MP said he was “delighted” by Smith & Nephew’s plans to build a facility in his constituency and added: “The UK is a world leader in Life Sciences and this investment will help us to capitalise on that. It will bring highquality jobs to the area as well as attracting further investment from other sources. In the post-brexit era, the UK has a chance to become a hub for innovation.”