Unilever closes Personal Care factory in Swansea after 23 years
The new personal care factory is co-located with its global personal care research & development facility, and its UK home care product factory.
The big talking point, when this move was first announced two years ago, was what to do with the current employees as the new facility was relocating over 150 miles.
According to Unilever, it has spent the last two years focusing on the legacy of the Swansea factory, which has included finding new roles for its employees.
Job situation
Now Unilever has confirmed that 98% of employees who have already left and were looking for another role have been successful in securing a job – an extraordinary figure for both the industry, and the region.
“As we come to our final close, all of the team here at Swansea are understandably sad. There is a mixture of nervousness and excitement around the site as our team prepares to move into their new companies and roles as the site closes today,” says Alex Ord, Swansea Factory Director, Unilever UK.
“But there’s also a unanimous appreciation of the support that they have had in terms of training and development needed for their futures.”
To support its 220 employees who worked at the site when the closure was announced in 2012, Unilever offered enhanced discretionary redundancy terms, performance bonuses, outplacement support and skills training.
It also hosted an open day in September, to which 11 local businesses were invited to see the site, meet employees and understand their achievements, skills and attitudes.
“I have worked with these tremendous people for almost seven years, and the loyalty, commitment, performance and unfaltering pride of the team since we announced the closure of the site until today has made me extremely proud and privileged,” adds Ord.
“They are impressive individuals and a formidable team, and I’m so pleased that nearly every person has already been able to find a new job, whether that’s with Unilever or with local employers. I wish every single person the very best in the future.”
Extra
In addition, through the Swansea site Unilever is working with the City & County of Swansea to fund projects to improve the employability prospects of the young people of Swansea, particularly those between the ages of 13-19 who are not currently in education, employment or training.
The projects are based around providing non-formal, formal and structured learning opportunities to enhance personal, social and political development and access to transportation to enable the youths to secure employment and further education opportunities.
Conversations continue with potential new buyers for the site and a sale will be announced as soon as confirmed.
