Meeting to help joinery firm workers

Workers who lost their jobs from Watton joinery firm JDS Plaswood are invited to a special support event tomorrow.

Breckland Council is inviting local employers, JobCentre Plus, Adult Education and benefit advisory personnel to a meeting at the Queens Hall to help the Plaswood staff.

More than 70 people at the joinery firm which supplied shop interiors for Next, WHSmith and Woolworths were made redundant.

JDS Plaswood went into administration last month but administrators Kroll have been unable to find a buyer.

Administrators were called in after cash flow problems at the firm's owner, Oxfordshire-based JDS Group.

JDS Group carried out interior fittings for the retail, library, education and commercial sectors and bought Plaswood in October 2006.

Plaswood, based on Watton's Threxton Road Industrial Estate, had been making display equipment, counters and cash desks for retailers since 1948.

A statement issued by the council, in conjunction with Kroll, said the administration was a result of a number of factors including a change in economic conditions and increased competition in the marketplace.

And that the job loss was announced to employees last Friday.

The Queen Hall event will be open to the public but the main aim is to help the 75 employees who will be personally invited.

People will be offered information on how to, get a new job, start a business, refresh skills, learn new skills, write a CV and interview techniques.

There will also be financial and personal advice and guidance, as well as benefits information for both council tax and housing benefits. There are still some places left for organisations to attend.

If you are interested please call the Economic Development team on 01362 656235 and ask for Lindy Warmer or Ralph Burton.