Latest news with #JoshSimons
ITV News
10 hours ago
- Business
- ITV News
'Gutted': MP Josh Simons promises to help Wigan NEG plant workers after closure announcement
An MP says he is "gutted" hundreds of workers will lose their jobs after the largest fibre glass factory in the UK announced its closure - but has promised to help wherever possible. More than 250 jobs will be lost when the NEG Nippon Electric Glass Fibre Works (EGFU) closes its doors for the final time at the end of June. The future of the site, based at Hindley Green near Wigan, has been in doubt since April, when NEG announced they were looking for a buyer to take over their UK branch. Josh Simons, Labour's MP for Makerfield admitted it will be "a difficult few weeks" for those involved. "It is gutting for Hindley Greeners," he said. "Its going to be a difficult few days and few weeks, and I know that there are families right across my constituency who are struggling mentally and even financially with what's going to happen next. "And I just want them to know that I'm here, my office is here, the council's here, the college is here, and we will all be there tonight and several times over the next few days and weeks to support them." The closure was confirmed at a Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday 18 June, where the company's president Akira Kishimoto announced it would "cease operations" of their UK subsidiary. The President confirmed the site will "stop its production in late June". Mr Simons has been involved in ongoing negotiations over recent months to try and keep the factory alive, with his frustration with owners Nippon clear. "I can't tell you how many times over the last three months we thought we'd got a deal over the line," he said. "It looks like every condition's been met and I've been expecting a call from the UK CEO or from Japan saying the deals over the line, its going to be OK and then something changes, there's a new condition somewhere. "And what's happened over the last two weeks in particular is two deals have fallen through that were viable, commercial deals, that the government expressed its support for, the mayor of Greater Manchester expressed his support for, I've expressed support for, but then Nippon changed the terms. "And I just don't have confidence any longer that Nippon is serious about doing a deal." The MP held a special meeting for workers and their families at the site at which groups from across the local area and the city region came together to explore what opportunities there may be for staff in the future. He returned early from Parliament to join the group aimed at bringing the 'whole borough' together to help the workers and their families. The Grove Company, which recently helped redundant Thomas Cooks staff, was just one of the attendees, alongside Wigan Council support staff, and Wigan and Leigh College to discuss retraining and education opportunities. "The evening was full of mixed emotions," Mr Simons said. "I wanted to be there to show workers they're not alone and to let them know the support that's available from Wigan Council, Wigan and Leigh College, DWP, and the Growth Company, as well as Work Well. "I know things are going to be hard, but this is a community that will pull together, and we'll make sure that everyone gets what they need. "My support for the workers continues and in the coming weeks I will be hosting a jobs fair. The fight now begins for a new, positive future for this site and the Hindley community and I will work tireless to make this happen." He added it was not just about immediate actions, but also about relaunching former NEG staff in the future, and said a job fair will also be held in around a month so those who were made redundant get opportunities for retraining and potentially a new job if they want them. Mr Simons says that negotiators met all the conditions that were imposed by Nippon, but that "the goal posts were moved again and again and again". But his hope for the future remains undimmed, and together with the union and other partners across the town and the city region, he says he is determined to find a viable future for the site, and for the people who lost their jobs, and their families: "We're still at the early stages of planning what's going to come next," he said. "But I think the workers on the plant, the GMB who I've been working really closely with know this by now, I'm not going to let this slip, this is not going to just drift off into something that takes 5, 10, 15 years to resolve. "Nippon have decided to close the plant, we now need to make sure these workers get a good deal, and a good package from Nippon, and then we need to start work straight away on what the future of this plant looks like."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hundreds of jobs to go in closure of UK's largest fibreglass factory
Hundreds of workers are set to lose their jobs after the owners of the UK's largest fibreglass factory announced the closure of the firm Nippon Electric Glass is to shut the plant in Hindley Green, Wigan, despite months of rescue talks with the government and local leaders. Josh Simons, Labour MP for Makerfield, said the firm had "repeatedly moved the goalposts" in discussions, while the GMB Union described the move as a "bitter betrayal" of the factory's 250-strong workforce. Nippon said "various options" had been considered over the plant's future, but the firm had decided to place its UK operation into voluntary liquidation. The announcement comes as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is in Japan on a week long "trade mission" to promote investment into the region. Simons said Burnham is due to meet the chairman of Nippon, which began reviewing the future of the site in April, to discuss the like wind turbine blades and parts for the rail and aerospace industries are made at the factory using the lightweight material. Gary Edwards, regional organiser for GMB which represents skilled workers at the factory, said: "Everyone involved worked tirelessly to try and secure the site's future."But for every solution we found, the company presented another problem. It became hard not to question how serious they were about doing a deal.""I'm angry about that, I'm disappointed, bitterly, for the workers but that is what has kiboshed this deal."Mr Edwards said the 250 staff due to lose their jobs had been a victim of a "global trend" towards protectionism caused by uncertainty over global supply chains. 'Devastating' "They're essentially spending more money than they were offered in some of these deals in order to close the plant," said Simons. "The only way to explain that is because they want to reshore their supply chains in Japan, and that is not in the interests of my workers, it's not in the interests of Britain."Simons said the closure would be "devastating" for workers at the site, some of who had worked there for decades. He said he would fight to make sure those workers get "every bit of support they possible can" from the government and local authorities. The factory had made a loss of £12m in the year ending December 2024, according to a notice published by firm said it had decided to cease operation and enter voluntary liquidation to "quickly rebuild our composites business".It said it plans to "rebuild its production system" to improve profitability. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Andy Burnham has 'one last go' to save 250 jobs at Wigan glass factory
Andy Burnham is urging the Japanese owners of a Wigan glass factory to take 'one last look' at its decision to close, affecting 250 jobs. Nippon Electric Glass, which is the largest fibre glass factory in the UK, has made the decision to close the site in Hindley Green at a board meeting on Wednesday (June 18). It comes after efforts by the local MP and a senior minister to save the factory in Leigh Road. Greater Manchester's mayor, who is currently in Japan on a trade mission, met with the company this morning for 'one last go'. READ MORE: Huge emergency response after car goes into canal READ MORE: Man accused of murder 'fought for his life' before fatally stabbing 'trespasser', his barrister tells jury However, he did not sound hopeful. He told the Manchester Evening News: "I'm going to do my best and ask them to give it one last look." The M.E.N. understands that the Labour mayor is hoping to work with the owners to repurpose the site if the closure decision is final. Makerfield MP Josh Simons said he 'would leave no stone unturned' to help save the Leigh Road factory and enlisted help from the business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds. But in a letter to workers on Tuesday (June 17), the MP appeared to admit defeat. Commenting on the decision on Wednesday (June 18), the Labour MP said: 'Both the Government and potential buyers worked flat out to meet every condition Nippon imposed — even when those conditions changed, repeatedly, often with very little notice." Trade union GMB, which worked with Mr Simons to save the plant, said the closure is a 'bitter betrayal of workers and UK industry'. Gary Edwards, GMB Regional Organiser, said: 'This is a deeply disappointing outcome for our members, their families and the wider Wigan community. 'Everyone involved worked tirelessly to try and secure the site's future. 'But for every solution we found, the company presented another problem. It became hard not to question how serious they were about doing a deal. 'These were skilled jobs in a vital industry. GMB will stand by our members and continue to fight for real investment in UK manufacturing.' Nippon has been contacted for comment.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Rugby league star Sir Billy Boston's knighthood ‘a little bit late', says son
'Trailblazing' rugby league star Sir Billy Boston's honour came 'a little bit late', his son said, as his father became a knight in a first for the sport. Sir Billy, who scored 478 tries in 488 matches for Wigan after making the switch from rugby union in 1953, was knighted by the King in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The 90-year-old, who was born in Wales, revealed in 2016 that he was living with vascular dementia. Speaking after his father was knighted, Sir Billy's son Stephen said: 'It's a really great honour. I think it has come a little bit late. It could have come a little bit earlier.' Sir Billy's knighthood was awarded before the latest round of honours has been publicly announced, amid concerns for his health. It comes after a campaign by local councillors, MPs and leading figures in the sport to get him honoured – and Sir Billy's family were supported by Josh Simons, the MP for Wakerfield, near Wigan, at the event. 'It should have been a lot, a lot sooner,' Sir Billy's son told the PA news agency. '130 years before a rugby league player got knighted. 'We're all really appreciative, and very appreciative of all the support we've got from Wigan, the rugby league club, the local MP and all the fans.' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was an 'historic wrong' that no rugby league player had been knighted before. He said: 'Billy Boston is a true trailblazer who has contributed hugely to rugby league. It is a historic wrong that a sport which is the backbone of so many communities has waited so long to receive this honour. 'Boston is a legend of the game who overcame prejudice to represent Great Britain and opened the door to a more diverse game. 'He's left a truly enduring legacy and the first knighthood in rugby league could not go to a more deserving player.' It is understood the Prime Minister has written to Sir Billy to congratulate him on the honour. In 1954, he made history as the first non-white player to be selected for a Great Britain rugby league Lions tour, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances around Australia and New Zealand, including a then-record four in one match against the Kiwis. He made two more Lions tours in 1958 and 1962 and ended with 24 tries in 31 Test appearances for Great Britain.
BBC News
06-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Wigan: Call for action months after 'soul-destroying' flooding
A woman whose home was submerged during the New Year's Day flooding has called for urgent action to create new defences after the "soul-destroying" devastation of her Royds had to wade out of her home in Platt Bridge, Wigan, after the deluge that caused widespread damage in a number of towns across Greater Manchester. Local MP Josh Simons said residents in the area were "right to be angry" about the lack of progress on a flood protection scheme. Floods minister Emma Hardy visited residents and businesses in the town weeks after the floods in January and said £2.4bn had been earmarked by the government for new defences across the country. But residents said they are yet to see any concrete action. About 100 homes in Wigan were flooded on New Year's Day, including Mrs Royds home on Templeton area also suffered a similar major flood in 2015, and Mrs Royds said she felt "let down" after being told by local authorities that it wouldn't happen again". She said: "After the last flood, and what we went through, I just feel it [flood defences] should have been done."I just want to sell up and get a bungalow somewhere, but who is going to buy this now."The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham visited those affected alongside the local MP to push for more support for the area. 'Overlooked again' He said: "This is a public safety issue. Does Platt Bridge get the same attention as more affluent areas?"That's what people feel, and I think they're right to ask that question, I am asking that question."Simons said he shared his constituents' anger and said he would "not let the area be overlooked again".A spokesman for the Environment Agency said protecting people and communities against the impact of flooding was their "top priority".The spokesman said the agency was working with other local authorities towards "developing a new plan to reduce flood risk in the area". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
