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Job cuts at Harris Tweed company | Job cuts at Harris Tweed company |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A Harris Tweed mill in Stornoway is to cut 36 jobs, it has emerged. | A Harris Tweed mill in Stornoway is to cut 36 jobs, it has emerged. |
The owner of the Kenneth Mackenzie mill said the cuts were necessary to help the industry survive. | The owner of the Kenneth Mackenzie mill said the cuts were necessary to help the industry survive. |
It is understood the majority of the redundancies will affect people who have worked at the firm for less than two years. | It is understood the majority of the redundancies will affect people who have worked at the firm for less than two years. |
The company is owned by businessman Brian Haggas, whose plans to streamline the industry met with a mixed response when he announced them last year. | The company is owned by businessman Brian Haggas, whose plans to streamline the industry met with a mixed response when he announced them last year. |
Mr Haggas, from Yorkshire, said he wanted to reduce the number of tweed patterns to just five and focus on producing upmarket men's jackets. | Mr Haggas, from Yorkshire, said he wanted to reduce the number of tweed patterns to just five and focus on producing upmarket men's jackets. |
He bought the Kenneth Mackenzie group, which produces 95% of Harris Tweed, in December 2006 after it had been on the market for four years. | He bought the Kenneth Mackenzie group, which produces 95% of Harris Tweed, in December 2006 after it had been on the market for four years. |
The announcement on jobs has concerned the Harris Tweed Authority and Western Isles SNP MSP Alasdair Allan. | |
Mr Allan said he had sought a meeting with Mr Haggas to discuss his plans for the future. | |
The MSP said: "Many inside the industry had huge reservations from the outset about Mr Haggis's strategy for Harris Tweed, and this is now being amplified, after yesterday's significant announcement about job losses. | |
"I will also be arranging meetings with government agencies and weavers to discuss this issue." |
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