Job market stays positive despite UK cuts

By Laurence Gibbons

- Last updated on GMT

Almost all of the UK experienced job cuts and gains in the second half of 2013.
Almost all of the UK experienced job cuts and gains in the second half of 2013.
There were more jobs gained than threatened in food and drink manufacturing in the last six months, continuing the trend for a positive outlook for the jobs market in the sector exclusively revealed by Foodmanufacture.co.uk in July.

The number of jobs cut in the sector between July 2013 and December 31 2013 was 3,255 – 218 less than the 3,473 created.

All figures are based on FoodManufacture.co.uk articles covering announcements made to date. To view over 1,300 jobs in the UK food and drink industry, visit Food Manufacture’s​ job website, FoodManJobs.

Unlike the first half of 2013​, where the north east and Midlands were responsible for creating the majority of new jobs, the locations of jobs created in the second half of the year were much more diverse.

Click on the blue pins on the map to read all about the jobs created in that area. The red pins will reveal exactly why jobs were placed in danger or cut.


View UK job loses and gains in Food and drink manufacturing July 2013 - January 2014 in a larger map

Jobs were created up and down the country, with 208 at a meat firm in south Wales; 450 at a Moy Park site in Lincolnshire; 750 at a Tesco distribution centre in Oxfordshire and 150 jobs at a food manufacturer in Bradford.

Lincolnshire created a whopping 730 jobs in total. As well the 450 at Moy Park, 200 were created at a Bakkavor facility in Spalding and 80 at Morrisons’ first ever banana ripening plant in Boston.

Job cuts were just as scattered as those gained – as reflected by our red pins – however Scotland was noticeably painted red with jobs cuts.

Overall, 854 jobs were either lost or put in doubt in Scotland.  

Heinz put fear into workers throughout the UK, announcing plans to axe 250 jobs from its sites in Middlesex, Lancashire, Cumbria, Shropshire, Norfolk and Worcestershire.

Whereas, Unilever announced plans to cut 840 marketing roles from its UK workforce.

Meanwhile, to view our map of where jobs were lost and gained in the first half of 2013, click here. 

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