80 jobs to go as Hewden Stuart’s Uddingston HQ is axed

Mar 6 2008 By Richard Mooney, Carla Callaghan and John Hutcheson

EIGHTY workers are facing the axe at a major Lanarkshire firm.

Hewden Stuart today announced that it is to close its head office in Uddingston.

The firm is one of the UK’s biggest specialist equipment rental company and is part of Finning International Inc.

Staff were told of the closure today (Thursday).

A spokesman for the firm said staff would be offered the opportunity to transfer to other operations in Cannock, Staffordshire.

The owners, Finning Group (UK), announced the as part of “a number of property and location changes”.

The spokesman added: “The most significant change will be in Tannochside Business Park, Uddingston, where it is proposed that a business support centre will be closed as the company centralises operations for both the Finning CAT dealership and Hewden plant hire arms at its group business support centre in Cannock in Staffordshire.
 
“Currently, around 80 employees are based at Tannochside, which has been part of the company’s operations for around nine years.

“There will be the opportunity for the majority of staff at Tannochside to relocate to Cannock via TUPE transfer, with a maximum of 27 posts not subject to potential transfer.”
 
While the Uddingston operation is set to close, the Hewden plant hire operations in Aberdeen and Dundee will undergo refurbishments.

The spokesman added: “In Hamilton, Finning Group are proposing to invest a further £1.4 million in capital expenditure at its CAT branch, where the number of equipment service bays and retail and office space will all be increased.

“Up to 10 new positions for mechanics will be created. All of the proposed changes and related refurbishment and construction work are expected to take place over the course of 2008.”
 
Finning Group (UK) Managing Director, Andy Fraser, said “Our long stated strategy has been to focus only on those businesses where we have, or can achieve, a leadership position and this has resulted in the sales of Finning UK’s Materials Handling division and Hewden’s Tools and Hoists businesses as going concerns over the last 18 months.

“The reduction in business lines has combined with efficiencies created by integrating the Finning and Hewden administrative functions and our recent £12.6m investment in a new IT system means that we can reduce the level of business support required without compromising quality standards.

“The drive towards a better integrated and more cost-efficient business support service has also resulted in the decision to move the majority of non-customer facing staff onto a single location; Cannock was chosen because it involved disruption to a smaller number of people.”
 
Mr Fraser insisted staff from Tannochside will be supported in a move to Cannock if they wish to relocate.

He added: “Staff in service depots will be unaffected except that a number will see improvements in facilities.

“We are also hopeful that the majority of staff who are happy to relocate will be able to TUPE transfer to our Cannock offices. We are, however, entering consultation for those affected by this change.”

Are you affected by the closure? Do you work at the Uddingston HQ? Contact us.

Be sure to check out our podcast with Hewden Stuart's Doug Sprout.