By Isle of Wight Observer
Up to 600 jobs are at risk, as Vestas has today entered into consultation with most of its Island workforce over redundancies, just weeks before Christmas.
The reasons given are that demand for its current V174 offshore turbine blades has come to an end and the site just outside Newport is unsuitable to produce the next generation of offshore blades and was earmarked for closure.
However, there is hope for up to 300 of its staff, as the company says it has reached “agreement in principle” with the government to produce onshore blades at the site. With demand for these products boosted following the new government’s decision to remove the “de facto onshore wind ban” in England and having a focus on building domestic supply chains.
The company says that it will also offer “a significant number of opportunities” in other parts of its business in the UK and elsewhere.
The technology teams, which carry out blade research design and development, and employs approximately 140 people on the Island, are not affected.
Anders Nielsen, Group CTOO of Vestas, said “We have invested in jobs and manufacturing activities on the Isle of Wight for more than two decades, and we have great pride in the technical expertise that has been developed at the site. We are pleased that this partnership in principle with the UK Government means we can continue manufacturing activities at the Isle of Wight to support the deployment of onshore wind in the UK. The commitment to domestic manufacturing and clean energy from the new government and Secretary of State has been instrumental in making this decision. My sincere gratitude goes to everyone working for us on the Isle of Wight, for their significant contribution to wind energy, and we are pleased to be retaining, and offering a significant number of opportunities for our impacted colleagues during this process.”
Vestas will now enter into a consultation process with its employees and aims to have clarity for most employees by January 2025.
Isle of Wight West MP, Richard Quigley said: “This will be deeply concerning news for the workers at Vestas and all my thoughts are with them and their families at this difficult time.
“The government has stepped in to help save the factory from complete closure, securing half of the jobs on the site, which will now be repurposed to manufacture onshore wind turbine blades.
“The previous government’s lack of an industrial strategy and the banning of onshore wind has meant planning the future for companies like Vestas has been extremely difficult. I am grateful that Ed Miliband has worked with the Treasury to protect as many jobs as possible in an industry vital to both the Island and the UK”
“I will do all I can to work with the local community to ensure those impacted by this news are properly supported.”
The Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Miliband, added: “My thoughts today are with the staff at Vestas who are facing uncertainty about the future of their jobs, especially at this time of year.
“I am, however, pleased that we have reached this agreement in principle with the company to save 300 jobs on the site, and that our lifting of the ban on onshore wind farms is helping make a site earmarked for closure viable for the future.
“This agreement in principle will now need to be followed up by the formal due diligence process. But the action we are taking is designed to secure work at one of the Isle of Wight’s largest employers, and give the UK a vital new industrial capability for our clean energy future.”
Meanwhile IW Council leader Phil Jordan confirmed the council had not been informed about the closure plans beforehand. He said: “Today’s announcement has come as a complete shock and surprise. The council is very supportive of Vesta’s operations on the Island but obviously very concerned about the workforce, jobs and the future of the company on the Island.
“This is of course a terrible shock for people just before Christmas, and we are prepared to work with anybody to deal with this situation and help those affected.”
