300 jobs to be saved on the Isle of Wight

Yesterday (Thursday 11th December), the government reached an agreement with wind turbine manufacturer Vestas to repurpose its wind blade factory on the Isle of Wight, which will save 300 jobs. This is subject to necessary approvals and due diligence processes

According to energy secretary Ed Miliband, the site was prevented from closing by a collaborative approach between the company and government. This will offer highly skilled jobs and boost the UK’s industrial power.

As part of the government’s Plan for Change to make Britain a clean energy superpower, lifting the ban on onshore wind has made this plan possible. This will create a growing supply chain in the UK and making the site viable for the longer term.

The factory, based in Newport, currently produces offshore wind turbines, and has been in production for over twenty years, employing 600 people.

Although demand for the product manufactured at the site is coming to an end, the government intervened to stop the factory from being closed, and struck an agreement.

The agreement in principle between the government and Vestas will repurpose the factory to create wind blades for onshore wind turbines, which will protect 300 jobs, potentially set to increase now onshore wind is legal.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “My thoughts today are with the staff at Vestas who are facing uncertainty about the future of their jobs, especially at this time of year.

“I am, however, pleased that we have reached this agreement in principle with the company to save 300 jobs on the site, and that our lifting of the ban on onshore wind farms is helping make a site earmarked for closure viable in the future.

“This agreement in principle will now need to be followed up by the formal due diligence process. But the action we are taking is designed to secure work at one of the Isle of Wight’s largest employers, and give the UK a vital new industrial capability for our clean energy future.”