I wanted to provide an update about the situation around Orchard House Foods going into administration in Corby and the associated highly regrettable job losses, further to my earlier updates and following conversations I have had today.
I know that this week’s news is enormously worrying for so many local families and I am continuing to do all that I can to help ensure that we get the response to this right.
To that end, I had a very helpful meeting with Corby JobCentre representatives this afternoon, who are working intensively to ensure that people can be matched to alternative employment opportunities locally, without delay, and will work with people to identify roles that suit them and their skills. Indeed, capacity has been surged from the wider JobCentre network to do this and a Jobs Fair has also been organised for the 2nd February 2023 at the Corby Cube between 10am and 3pm. I am actively supporting this, as is North Northamptonshire Council - and what is very encouraging is that several local businesses have already reached out wanting to be a part of this event, not least because they know that the Orchard House Foods workforce are dedicated, loyal and hardworking, and also very much job ready. Any local business that is interested in being a part of the Jobs Fair, or who have vacancies they are keen to fill, are extremely welcome and at no cost - and if they wish to contact me with their details, I will gladly put them in touch with the JobCentre team.
I have also made contact with the administrators, seeking a meeting with them at their earliest convenience, with a view to interrogating the arrangements that will be in place to ensure that all those employees affected receive the help to which they are entitled, including any redundancy and other monies owed. I am also keen to understand their intentions about where the business goes from here and their plans around this, moving forward. I will certainly provide further updates on these points as I have them and I am already supporting individuals with their specific cases, with a view to seeking reassurance for them and ideally, speedily resolving any issues. That offer certainly stands for any affected employees and their families.
I also just want to say this. These job losses are immensely sad and worrying and it is absolutely right that no stone is left unturned in supporting all those affected. We are also living in challenging economic times here and abroad, and this situation illustrates why the Prime Minister is right to be so determined to get inflation down as quickly as possible. But we must not lose sight of the fact that our local economy is dynamic and diverse and that accounts in large part for the remarkable falls in unemployment we have seen locally in recent years. There is no reason why that cannot continue and I want to say that even since the turn of the year, I have visited several existing local businesses with growing order books, that have vacancies available and that intend to significantly invest in, and grow, their businesses in the months and years ahead. We also have others who are choosing Corby as the place to invest, for a whole host of reasons, and in doing so, bringing vast numbers of new jobs. We should therefore avoid unhelpful narratives that only serve to talk our local economy down and deter investment, when actually there are some very encouraging developments in the offing and local success stories we ought to be acknowledging and celebrating around job creation and business growth. Our area has much going for it.
I will of course provide further updates as I have them, but again, if you or a loved one are affected by this week’s worrying news, please do not hesitate to get in touch at any time and I will do all I can to assist you in working through any issues that have arisen.