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Souter Marine Limited
Closure Press Release
FORTY JOBS GO AS SOUTER'S CLOSES
By Gavin Foster
COWES shipyard Souter Marine has gone into receivership with the loss of
more than 40 jobs. But there was hope for many of the workers this week as
local boat builders and Cowes Marine Cluster battled to salvage some of the
work and jobs. Cowes Marine Cluster project director Sally Lynskey said: "We
are now doing all we can to re-employ as many of the workforce as we can
around member businesses." It is hoped more than 15 jobs can be secured at
GRP Laminates and Victory Yard at West Cowes and at South Boats in East
Cowes, which is also negotiating to take on an RNLI contract Souters had
been working on.
South Boats is also talking to former Souter customers
with the hope of securing more work that could create a further ten or so
posts. South Boats commercial director Rob Stewart, who is also chairman of
the Cowes Marine Cluster, said: "When we went around the site on Monday,
there was an old chap throwing his tools into the bin because he didn't
think he would ever use them again. "It is his sort of expertise we need to
maintain.
His knowledge would make him an ideal trainer or
mentor." The cluster is urging all Souter's employees to register their
skills for a database that can be drawn upon as and when new work becomes
available. But there was also anger among the workers and the suspicion the
site was being earmarked for housing. MP Andrew Turner said: "A number of
constituents have raised concern at what has happened and I will be
investigating." Neither the receivers, CBA Insolvency Practitioners, nor
owners, Staffordshire-based Boston Commercial Finance Ltd, was available for
comment on Thursday.
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