Corby logistics firm lays off staff during coronavirus crisis

Staff at one of Corby’s biggest employers are being laid off in the midst of the coronavirus emergency.

Advanced Supply Chain has told a number of staff they are being made redundant and many will only get a week’s paid leave.

The move comes just nine months after the logistics firm which works largely in the fashion sector, moved into a second unit at Hunter’s Point and increased its staff numbers by 100 to 450.

A spokesman said: “We are devastated to announce a small number of redundancies across our two businesses in the Corby area.

“We’re working hard to protect jobs and push beyond the current downturn in the retail sector.

“Wherever possible, we’ve worked to retain and redeploy staff within the group and also with other local companies who have current vacancies to assist staff in finding roles.”

A person affected by the redundancies, who did not want to be named, said they understood about 30 people had been affected.

They said: “This came out of the blue and it is really terrible as the place has a family feel and people had been doing lots of overtime for them.

“Many people have worked there for less than two years so they will get one week’s paid leave. There have been people with children who have been laid off and another woman has just returned from maternity. They told people last week and have been telling a few people each day.

“In this climate it is tough for everybody and this has caused huge worry.”

A spokesman for the business said due to management being extremely busy dealing with the coronavirus emergency they were unable to confirm redundancy numbers but would hope to update shortly.

The new unit that Advanced Supply Chain rents is co-owned by Kettering and Corby Councils. The two local authorities have been spending millions buying up commercial property over recent years and renting it out.

The Government has said it will ‘do whatever it takes’ to keep the country and businesses running during the pandemic however many companies are feeling the impact especially those linked to the retail sector which has been massively hit by a huge downturn in sales as people stay indoors on national orders.