This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/mar/18/astrazeneca-cut-jobs-george-osborne-constituency

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
AstraZeneca to cut 2,150 jobs in George Osborne's constituency AstraZeneca to cut 2,150 jobs in George Osborne's constituency
(6 months later)
AstraZeneca is cutting 2,150 jobs in George Osborne's constituency just five months after the chancellor helped the drugs group secure a £5m government grant to develop its Alderley Park research and development centre.AstraZeneca is cutting 2,150 jobs in George Osborne's constituency just five months after the chancellor helped the drugs group secure a £5m government grant to develop its Alderley Park research and development centre.
The UK's second-biggest pharmaceutical company said it was closing down the Alderley Park R&D facility in Osborne's seat of Tatton in Cheshire with the loss of 550 jobs there and 150 elsewhere in the UK over the next three years.The UK's second-biggest pharmaceutical company said it was closing down the Alderley Park R&D facility in Osborne's seat of Tatton in Cheshire with the loss of 550 jobs there and 150 elsewhere in the UK over the next three years.
A further 1,600 jobs will be moved from the facility to Cambridge, where Astra is relocating its headquarters and creating a new $500m (£330m) R&D centre.A further 1,600 jobs will be moved from the facility to Cambridge, where Astra is relocating its headquarters and creating a new $500m (£330m) R&D centre.
It is just over a year since the company announced 7,300 job cuts as part of its last cost-cutting drive. The new cuts by one of the biggest employers in Osborne's constituency come just two days before the chancellor delivers a budget aiming to avoid a triple-dip recession.It is just over a year since the company announced 7,300 job cuts as part of its last cost-cutting drive. The new cuts by one of the biggest employers in Osborne's constituency come just two days before the chancellor delivers a budget aiming to avoid a triple-dip recession.
More than 7% of Osborne's employed constituents, "including some of the world's most skilled and experienced science professionals", work at Alderley Park. Osborne is also likely to face questions about the £5m grant the government gave Astra to develop Alderley Park into a "bioscience cluster" just five months ago.More than 7% of Osborne's employed constituents, "including some of the world's most skilled and experienced science professionals", work at Alderley Park. Osborne is also likely to face questions about the £5m grant the government gave Astra to develop Alderley Park into a "bioscience cluster" just five months ago.
When Astra was given the grant by the regional growth fund in October, the company said it was "grateful" for Osborne's support in securing the money. Dr Chris Doherty, project leader for Alderley Park, said: "A number of people have been working hard behind the scenes to get us to this stage. In particular, we are grateful for the support of the Rt Hon George Osborne."When Astra was given the grant by the regional growth fund in October, the company said it was "grateful" for Osborne's support in securing the money. Dr Chris Doherty, project leader for Alderley Park, said: "A number of people have been working hard behind the scenes to get us to this stage. In particular, we are grateful for the support of the Rt Hon George Osborne."
Doherty said Astra was "very excited about the potential of this initiative and the prospects for a dynamic science cluster in the north-west".Doherty said Astra was "very excited about the potential of this initiative and the prospects for a dynamic science cluster in the north-west".
Osborne did not respond to requests for comment about his role in securing the grant. A spokeswoman for Astra said the funding was "on hold". The chancellor said the job cuts were "obviously very difficult news for people directly affected by the decisions around Alderley Park".Osborne did not respond to requests for comment about his role in securing the grant. A spokeswoman for Astra said the funding was "on hold". The chancellor said the job cuts were "obviously very difficult news for people directly affected by the decisions around Alderley Park".
"I have worked hard with AstraZeneca over the last few weeks to make sure that a substantial number of jobs are kept there and will work closely with Cheshire East council and the government taskforce we are creating to bring new companies to the site," he said. "We are all determined that Alderley Park shall remain a success story and at the heart of our local community.""I have worked hard with AstraZeneca over the last few weeks to make sure that a substantial number of jobs are kept there and will work closely with Cheshire East council and the government taskforce we are creating to bring new companies to the site," he said. "We are all determined that Alderley Park shall remain a success story and at the heart of our local community."
The Unite union said Astra's relocation to Cambridge was a "massive blow" for north-west England. "The company is creating a skills crisis for the local economy," said Linda McCulloch, Unite's national officer. "After 40 years of success and hundreds of millions of pounds of investment, we are at a loss as to why AstraZeneca is now pulling out of Alderley Park. The region desperately needs this highly skilled workforce – they make a huge contribution to the economy and to the community."The Unite union said Astra's relocation to Cambridge was a "massive blow" for north-west England. "The company is creating a skills crisis for the local economy," said Linda McCulloch, Unite's national officer. "After 40 years of success and hundreds of millions of pounds of investment, we are at a loss as to why AstraZeneca is now pulling out of Alderley Park. The region desperately needs this highly skilled workforce – they make a huge contribution to the economy and to the community."
GMB national officer Allan Black said the shuttering of Alderley Park's R&D facility while maintaining just 700 support staff roles was "disastrous news".GMB national officer Allan Black said the shuttering of Alderley Park's R&D facility while maintaining just 700 support staff roles was "disastrous news".
"These are cutting-edge jobs that are both well-paid and essential for a thriving UK economy," he said. "Highly skilled and qualified workers will be put on the scrapheap.""These are cutting-edge jobs that are both well-paid and essential for a thriving UK economy," he said. "Highly skilled and qualified workers will be put on the scrapheap."
Pascal Soriot, Astra's new chief executive, said the job cuts and restructuring represented an "exciting and important opportunity to put science at the heart of everything we do because our long-term success depends on improving R&D productivity and achieving scientific leadership".Pascal Soriot, Astra's new chief executive, said the job cuts and restructuring represented an "exciting and important opportunity to put science at the heart of everything we do because our long-term success depends on improving R&D productivity and achieving scientific leadership".
He said moving Astra's headquarters to Cambridge and streamlining R&D into three centres – Cambridge, Gaithersburg, Maryland, in the US and Mölndal in Sweden – would allow the company to "accelerate innovation".He said moving Astra's headquarters to Cambridge and streamlining R&D into three centres – Cambridge, Gaithersburg, Maryland, in the US and Mölndal in Sweden – would allow the company to "accelerate innovation".
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.