Bombardier Affects The East Midlands
6 September 2011, 12:22 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
Businesses across the East Mids are looking for work overseas after Derby train makers Bombardier missed out on a £1.4billion contract.
According to the Chamber of Commerce, almost a quarter of Bombardier's suppliers are now trying to seek contracts from Siemens, who won the Thameslink contract. Nearly half of the supply companies for Bombardier rely on the firm for 5% of their sales. Around 1,400 people could loose their jobs at Bombarider and a new report out today suggets thousands more jobs are at risk across the country, including some in the Prime Minister's constituency.
It comes as another report has also been released today by the Unite union. In that one they claim loads of firms which deal with Bombardier will be forced to cut jobs after the train maker missed out on the deal.
Their research shows that only one firm out of the 125 questioned believe the decision would have a positive impact on their business.
Almost half those surveyed warned of job losses, with some already laying off workers, following the decision to award a contract to build new trains for the Thameslink route to German firm Siemens.
Len McCluskey, General Secretary for Unite said, "It's absolutely scandalous that the Government did not stop to examine the social and economic impact of not choosing Bombardier for the Thameslink contract. Some companies are even having to lay off workers now and a third believe the decision will have a substantially negative impact on their business."
More than 200 Bombardier workers, Derby councillors and local business leaders are set to travel to London tomorrow on a specially commissioned Bombardier-built train to press the Government to change its decision.
