Stead McAlpin

Redundancy support – advice days

(Date of issue: Wednesday, 8 April 2009)

Two advice and support days will be held for local residents recently made redundant from the Stead McAlpin textiles print works.

One-to-one support sessions will be held on Thursday, 16 April and Friday, 17 April, between 10am and 4pm each day, at the Civic Centre.

Information on redundancy support, how to access benefits and training will all be available.

Anyone wishing to book one of the half-hour sessions, should contact Carlisle City Council on 01228 817544 as soon as possible.

Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council are working with partner organisations to provide support to local residents recently made redundant from the Stead McAlpin textiles print works.

Formerly part of the John Lewis Partnership, the Cummersdale firm was sold to Apex Textiles in September 2007. The business was put into administration, with the loss of more than 60 jobs, last week.

Discussions have already taken place with the John Lewis Partnership to clarify redundancy issues and also with Job Centre Plus, who will 'fast track' those affected through the claims process. A meeting has also been held with the administrators.

The councils are bringing together representatives from Job Centre Plus, Learning and Skills Council, Carlisle College, training bodies and advice agencies to co-ordinate the support available to those facing redundancy.

Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:

"The loss of jobs has been a real shock and we must ensure that the people affected have access to professional advice and support. We took immediate action when the redundancies were made and have already taken steps, with other agencies, to look at the immediate help that can provided to those who need to access benefits, training and redundancy support. This needs a multi-agency approach and we will look at how we can work together to assist those who need us most."

Leader of Cumbria County Council, Cllr Stewart Young, said:

"Cumbria County Council is working hard behind scenes with its partners to do everything we can to safeguard the future of Stead McAlpin. The work of the support agencies includes helping the administrator to seek a new buyer for the company, helping those employees have already been made redundant with support and advice and also making sure they will be granted the right redundancy payments.

"For those employees who remain at the company we will also be offering support and advice as they are understandably concerned about their future. Our officers will also be examining the links Stead McAlpin has with other companies in the region to examine whether there could be a collateral effect on the local supply chain. We are clearly living in very challenging economic times, but we are doing all we can to safeguard vital jobs in the county."