North carpet firm to axe 35 jobs

Thirty-five jobs are to go at Ulster Carpets in Portadown, Co Armagh, it was announced today.

The impact on the company’s order book by the global economic downturn has been blamed for the redundancies.

The firm employs 400 people, but at one stage in 2002 had over 1,500 on the books.

Managing director Nick Coburn said the decision to reduce the full-time workforce by 35 was made with great regret. All other options had been exhausted.

He added “The reality is that the global financial turmoil has taken a heavy toll on consumers and businesses leading to a need to cut production levels for the foreseeable future.”

The company said it was offering an extensive redundancy package with both an enhanced element and ex-gratia payment. Counselling and training for new job applications would be provided for anyone affected.

Despite the downturn the company said it was continuing to invest in the plant at Portadown. As a market leader involved a wide range of technological developments, it would continue to to recruit specialist skills from within the province.

Two new state of the art plain Wilton looms are to be installed in early 2009 as part of a major investment initiative to widen product appeal in the retail market.

Ulster Carpets has been based in Portadown for 70 years and has committed its long-term future to the area, with a plan already in operation to eventually move all operations to a single location on one of its sites in the town.