Staff at top Devizes furniture firm fear jobs axe (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Staff at top Devizes furniture firm fear jobs axe

11:00am Thursday 13th November 2008 in News By Lewis Cowen

Workers at luxury furniture company Smallbone of Devizes, could be looking at a gloomy Christmas after the company launched a consultation on a proposed economy package.

Letters were issued to staff this week, warning that, due to the economic downturn, the company had to look at making cuts in production.

It was not clear in the letter how many jobs are on the line, but up to a third of the 150-strong workforce are thought to be in danger of being laid off.

One worker, who asked not to be named, said: “I haven’t had a letter yet, but I suppose it is only a matter of time.

“Everybody is very down about the situation. Six blokes were laid off a couple of months ago, but I think this is going to be a lot worse.”

A spokesman for the company said the consultation was only being carried out at Smallbone of Devizes and not at any other part of the Smallbone group, which also includes Mark Wilkinson Furniture in Bromham.

She said: “The process we are undertaking is like that being made by many businesses in the UK affected by the recession. We want to improve efficiency in the business to assure its long-term prosperity.

“We cannot say how many redundancies, if any, there will be but it is incredibly important that we work with the unions on this.”

Charlie Smallbone, Mark Wilkinson and others set up Smallbone of Devizes nearly 30 years ago and the company has been in the top league of bespoke kitchen manufacturers ever since, with showrooms in Chelsea and Knightsbridge in London, Leamington Spa, Sunningdale, Tunbridge Wells and many other upmarket locations.

The threatened job losses at Smallbone come amid rumours of lay-offs at other Devizes employers.

Cross Manufacturing have denied that 23 people have been laid off at their Hopton Park HQ.

Managing director Dave Spencer said: “We have lost some agency staff but we are not looking to lose any of our permanent staff.”

Charles Bartholomew, chairman of Wadworth, said that two men had been laid off in the tun room because a contract had ended, and it was hoped alternative work would be found for them.

Richard Moss, a spokesman for Mark Wilkinson Furniture, said: “We have made no redundancies this year and none are planned. 2007 and 2008 have been years of expansion for Mark Wilkinson Furniture. We are taking a positive but realistic view for the rest of the year and we are keeping our staff informed.”