SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Hundreds of jobs under threat at Yeovil factory

NEWS is breaking this morning (Friday, October 7, 2016) that 230 workers at aerospace company GKN in Yeovil have been sent home with growing doubts about its future in the town.

It has been reported that the future of GKN in Yeovil is under intense threat with workers told that redundancies or even a site closure is possible.

GKN makes the airframes for the Royal Navy’s Wildcat helicopter, but now Leonardo – better known as Yeovil-based Westlands - who produce the helicopter want to take the work back in-house.

A GKN spokesman said: “We have been informed by Leonardo Helicopters that due to changes in their demand for helicopters, they will relocate all future AW159 Wildcat assembly and detail work away from the GKN facility on the Leonardo Yeovil site to one of their own facilities.

“Leonardo’s decision to take this work in-house means an immediate end to any future AW159 Wild Cat orders being placed with GKN Yeovil.

“The removal of a significant part of GKN Yeovil’s business puts at risk the long-term viability of our Yeovil site, which is situated inside the Leonardo Helicopter campus.

“Having completed a thorough assessment of the business, including our on-going order book, capabilities and cost base, we have regrettably concluded that GKN Yeovil, as it stands today, is no longer a sustainable business and will have to be significantly downsized or fully closed.

“We will now enter a period of consultation with nominated employee representatives.”

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