New jobs created at Spennymoor lighting factory

Feb 3 2010 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A COUNTY Durham factory which shed 85 jobs shortly after opening last year has brought back staff back after winning work worth £17m.

Lighting company Thorn, which is owned by Austria’s Zumtobel group, has created 40 manufacturing jobs at the £28m state-of-the-art factory in Spennymoor that opened a year ago.

The UK wing of the company made the office-based staff redundant last year as it tried to cope with a drop in orders caused by the recession.

Operations director Terry Carmichael said: “Obviously we had to announce redundancies but in the main we’re managing.

“We’ve turned in some excellent results and transferable work that’s come from elsewhere in the group and suppliers.”

Large downlighters used in factories and warehouses and a similar product for offices were brought to Spennymoor from Romania and further lighting equipment work came to County Durham from France.

“At the start of last year, two products were transferred from our Romanian factory because we execute the strategy that where we have a significant marketplace, we will have a manufacturing presence, added Mr Carmichael.

“That was probably about 20 operators’ worth of work.

“During the rest of the year, we transferred products from a supplier in France. We just finished the transfer of them at the end of last year.

“In total, that probably added around £11m of turnover last year but in the full year it will add about £17m.

“Employment-wise it probably adds about 40 jobs.”