50 jobs could go at Calne electronics firm (From This Is Wiltshire)

50 jobs could go at Calne electronics firm

7:24am Tuesday 21st April 2009 in News By Alana Lewis

Staff at electronics company Exception EMS in Calne are facing uncertainty as it is understood managers announced a quarter of jobs will be cut this month.

Exception EMS, based in Harris Road on the Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, is believed to be making 50 of its 200 staff redundant.

It is thought the redundancies are being made following a recent and very quick fall in the order book caused by economic difficulties, and that management started the statutory consultation period on April 6.

One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I was told today that I am at risk of losing my job.

“People who have been there for 20 plus years are now at risk of redundancies and they are devastated.

“We were told last week that 50 people will be made redundant and we were told it will be based on a scoring system taking into account sickness and things rather than the length of time you have worked there.

“There will be a few unhappy faces around Calne because it is not easy to get work these days.”

It is understood that those who are made redundant will be out of work by Tuesday, May 5.

The news has come as a shock to staff as the business, formally known as DDI Technologies and before that Calne Electronics, has been going from strength to strength over the past few years.

In March the company was awarded the Innovation and Growth Award at the Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards in recognition of a £3 million increase in turnover between 2007 and 2008.

A spokesman for Exception EMS has confirmed the loss of up to 50 jobs at its Calne facility in Wiltshire.

Managing director of Exception EMS Richard Brighton said: “I am obviously disappointed that we’ve had to make these lay-offs and we are doing all we can to support the affected staff members through this difficult period.

“As one of the biggest employers in Calne, we have had to make some tough decisions in recent weeks to ensure the long-term success of the business. “However, over the last 18 months we have worked hard to adopt the latest lean manufacturing techniques, which I am confident will stand us in good stead for the future.

“While many of our competitors have suffered far greater levels of job cuts and even closure, our spread of customers across a wide range of industries and countries worldwide has tended to shield us from the harshest affects of the downturn.”

The company has blamed the redundancies on a fall in the volume of orders and not any specific contract losses.

Bosses at Exception EMS has been in contact with the employment services in a bid to find new jobs for staff.