Laing O'Rourke puts 125 Bison staff on notice

Laing O’Rourke has put a further 70 jobs at risk at its second Bison factory in Derbyshire, after today announcing it was set to close its Bison factory in Scotland.

The contractor said that it had told staff today at it Bison facility in Swadlincote that it would be reducing output at the factory.

The firm said: “It is with regret that we today informed our Swadlincote workforce that following a review of the future pipeline of opportunities, we are proposing a reduction in the shift pattern, matching output capacity to demand levels and aligning costs accordingly.

“The proposals also suggest that we merge and relocate a number of central overhead positions with Laing O’Rourke’s Explore Industrial Park near Worksop. This proposal places 70 roles at risk of redundancy. Our priority is to support our workforce through this unsettling time and over the coming weeks we will be consulting them around the details of this proposal.”

The move comes after the firm earlier today confirmed it was looking at closing its Bison factory in Uddingston, Scotland, with 55 at risk of redundancy.

However, the firm said it remained “totally committed” to the Bison business, which it took over in 2008 after it fell into administration. The contractor assumed full ownership of the business, established in 1919, earlier this year.

The firm added: “Bison is a company with a strong heritage and brand reputation. Laing O’Rourke assumed full ownership of the Group in January 2012 and is totally committed to securing its long term future.

“The continued depressed state of the construction and manufacturing markets has led to Bison’s Uddingston operation making losses over a sustained period of time.

“This situation cannot be allowed to continue and decisive action is necessary to ensure a successful future for the business.