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Wedgwood confirms 367 job losses Wedgwood confirms 367 job losses
(20 minutes later)
Administrators for iconic china brand Waterford Wedgwood have confirmed that 367 workers have lost their jobs. Administrators for china and crystal maker Waterford Wedgwood have confirmed that 367 workers have lost their jobs.
This is above an earlier figure which put job losses at 350, before the firm went into administration last week. The company had already announced that it was to cut 350 jobs, before it went into administration last week.
Of the losses, 245 posts are in manufacturing, 106 are office-based, 8 are in the visitor centre, while 8 are in shops in Southport and Worthing. The majority of the job losses are at its site at Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. The company employs 1,900 people in the UK and 800 in the Irish Republic.
Administrators are in advanced talks with US private equity firm KPS Capital Partners to buy most of the firm.Administrators are in advanced talks with US private equity firm KPS Capital Partners to buy most of the firm.
The firm employs 1,900 people in the UK, with about 600 working in manufacturing at Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. The business is known for its Wedgwood pottery, Royal Doulton and Waterford crystal.
'Discussions'
Angus Martin, joint administrator and reorganisation services partner at Deloitte, said: "Unfortunately it has been necessary to make 367 employees redundant."Angus Martin, joint administrator and reorganisation services partner at Deloitte, said: "Unfortunately it has been necessary to make 367 employees redundant."
He added: "The business will be continuing to trade as normal, and the administrators are continuing discussions with parties who have expressed an interest in purchasing the business. Every effort is being made to avoid further redundancies across the business."He added: "The business will be continuing to trade as normal, and the administrators are continuing discussions with parties who have expressed an interest in purchasing the business. Every effort is being made to avoid further redundancies across the business."
The Irish-based business is known for its Wedgwood pottery, Royal Doulton and Waterford crystal and has been known as an leading name in British pottery for more than 200 years. The major of Stoke-on-Trent, Mark Meredith, said redundant workers would be helped into new jobs through a retraining and support programme.
He added: "Today's announcement is a devastating blow for the workforce at Wedgwood. The whole city of Stoke-on-Trent will feel for them and their families."
Contingency funding is already in place to extend a "highly successful ceramic workers retraining programme run by the Unity trade union," he said.