Firm talks down jobs fears (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Firm talks down jobs fears

8:39am Wednesday 10th December 2008 in Chard

BOSSES at one of Chard’s main employers have called for calm among workers amid fears that jobs are at risk.

A number of staff at Mann and Hummel on Chard Business Park have had their working week reduced from five to three days and ru-mours have continued this week about possible job losses.

But business manager David Purcell said the company, which makes oil filter systems, was ‘very stable’ and had been enjoying a record year.

“We have a very stable business here but there is a worldwide recession at the moment and we are monitoring things closely,” he said.

“At the moment we have not made any re-dundancies but we have introduced short-time working days to ensure that people stay in work. We are trying to keep the business stable and viable in Chard.”

Mr Purcell added: “We have had the best year in the history of the company with regards sales and we have exceeded last year’s business in turnover.

“We have seen a decline in our order book since October but up until then we were seeing an all-time high.

“Many of our clients are cutting back on their orders at the moment because of the recession and we will see how things are in the New Year before we make any snap decisions.”

Some workers have anonymously contacted the News in the past week and expressed fears they could find themselves out of work.

Mr Purcell stressed: “We need to keep calm and not panic. Of course people are worried but we need to be responsible about this. We will keep staff informed about what is happening every step of the way.”

Mann and Hummell has been operating in Chard since 2001 and has 74 workers.

Mr Purcell added: “We have a very strong business plan in Chard but it is going to be tough over the next 12 months.”

Mann and Hummell has clients across the globe and caters to customers in the motor and industrial sectors.

Mr Purcell said that although orders had dropped off in the vehicle sector, the industrial business was holding up well.