Job-cut Nestlé taking on staff

10:34am Tuesday 19th February 2008

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Nestlé Rowntree is understood to be recruiting scores of skilled staff in York to help "drive the factory forward."

The company, which is making 645 workers redundant as part of a massive restructuring of the York confectionery factory, has a number of opportunities available in permanent roles.

Nestlé has declined to make any comment about the new posts, but sources told The Press that 70 to 80 jobs were being created.

A company notice, passed to the newspaper, revealed that the posts have been identified following an ongoing review of business requirements in 2008 and beyond.

"These are ideal for individuals who wish to be considered for/developed into higher level roles than those for which they have currently been selected," it says.

The notice reveals that preference will be given to permanent Nestlé employees, but opportunities might be available for agency staff employed by PMP.

It does not say whether anyone who has already accepted redundancy will be eligible to apply for the posts, nor whether anyone from outside Nestlé might be recruited, and the company has declined to clarify either of these issues.

The notice says that the factory is undergoing the most radical restructure in its history and the changes in moving to new facilities, with new teams and work patterns should not be underestimated.

"We are looking for people who are up for the challenge and want to drive the factory forward."

The notice states that opportunities exist across plants and departments, and at various levels including line technicians, process operators and line operators.

"Individuals will not be able to nominate a plant or department they wish to work in, although they may express a preference."

The closing date for applications was last Friday.

John Kirk, of the GMB union, said he was aware that the company was recruiting but knew no other details at this stage.

"It's a good thing they are recruiting," he said. "It shows they are growing."

He said that of the 645 redundancies announced in 2006, some had gone while some were still working at the factory.

"It's a slow, ongoing process."