Derby City Council responds to announcement of Alstom job losses
Alstom is one of Derby’s largest private sector employers, employing 2,000 highly skilled people
Derby City Council is seeking talks with Alstom following an announcement that job losses are expected in Derby due to delays with future contracts.
The Council has pledged to play its part in supporting the company, and urges Government to work with Alstom, as it attempts to mitigate a major fall off in production as a result in delays in new train orders.
Alstom is the UK & Ireland’s leading supplier of new trains and train services, having built, or building, just under 40% of the UK mainline train fleet, as well as the entire fleets in service with London Underground.
The company is one of Derby’s largest private sector employers, employing 2,000 highly skilled people who design and build trains at their Derby Litchurch Lane site, which is the UK’s only train factory.
Alstom provide the widest range of smart solutions in the rail market, from innovative high-speed rolling stock, metros and trams to maintenance, modernisation, infrastructure and signalling.
Councillor Baggy Shanker, Leader of Derby City Council, said he would be taking steps to work with the city employer to understand how Derby City Council could assist and support: "We’re shocked to hear the national media coverage today.
"The Litchurch Lane factory site is a unique asset for Derby and we understand the impact these job losses will have on our residents and the wider region.
"As a Council, we’re ready to play our part and urge the Government and unions to work closely with Alstom to ensure a sustainable future for the factory, which would not only benefit the thousands of staff at the site, but many more across the local supply chain.
"The rail sector is immensely important to the city, and was recognised earlier this year with Derby being named the home for the new Great British Railways headquarters. We stand with Alstom and their workers during this challenging time and pledge to support wherever we can."
A spokesperson from Alstom UK & Ireland said: “Derby is very important to Alstom and to the UK rail sector. It is the only UK factory that can design, engineer, build and test trains for domestic and export markets. We are committed to working with Government to secure a sustainable future for the factory, our 2,000 staff and the over 1,400 UK suppliers we work with.”