MPs will try to save 259 jobs at Seven Seas' Hedon Road plant

POLITICIANS will meet company bosses from Seven Seas next week to try to save more than 250 jobs in Hull.

The urgent meeting comes after Seven Seas announced production at its plant in Hedon Road would be out-sourced and operations transferred to London.

The loss of the company, which has been based in Hull since 1935, would put more pressure on the private sector and comes after food firm McCain announced a proposal to lose 50 jobs in the city.

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has expressed her concern about the loss of another large firm.

IS YOUR CAR KEY BENT ? REMOTE FOB NOT WORKING ? LOST CAR KEYS ?...

Peace Of Mind Security Hull Ltd/Hull Car Keys

View details

Print voucher

FOR ALL YOUR CAR KEY NEEDS CALL US NOW ON
01482 423414
SNAPPED KEYS, LOST KEYS, KEYS LOCKED IN VEHICLES,
EXTRA KEYS
WE ALSO REPAIR 90% OF ALL REMOTES AND KEYS, NO FIX NO CHARGE.

Terms: Terms: FREE REMOTE KEY FOB BATTERY ONE PER CUSTOMER
SAVE £3.00 WITH THIS FREE BATTERY
Contact: 01482 423414

Contact: 01482 423414

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

She said: "We cannot afford to keep losing private sector jobs in Hull, such as those at Seven Seas and McCain Foods.

"We need a proper plan for growth from the Government, including a real push to attract the skilled jobs of the future to Hull and ensure that local youngsters have the skills and qualifications for them."

It was another blow to the city's economy, with 259 potential job losses.

Labour leader councillor Steve Brady used his speech at the full council meeting at the Guildhall to call on all parties to work with the company and get reasons for its decision.

He said: "We want to use the meeting with Seven Seas to understand how this has come to pass at a company that was beginning to cement its position in the city."

The meeting will be used to ask the company for detailed reasons as to why they are closing their site and MPs will use the opportunity to try to persuade the company not to cut its ties with Hull.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Ross said the loss of Seven Seas would be a huge blow.

He said: "Seven Seas has a long- standing connection with the city and this news has come as a bitter blow for everyone.

"It is really disappointing to see a company with such strong links to Hull taking its business out of the city."

Leaders of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties have vowed to work together to create growth in the city's economy and increase the number of private sector jobs should Seven Seas uphold their decision.

Cllr Ross said: "Everyone is committed to seeing the economy of Hull grow and the number of jobs increase, so we can't continue to lose businesses in this fashion.

"There is a need for the company to meet the council and explain how this situation has come about."

The vitamins company has been criticised for breaking the links with the city that helped make its fortune.

MP Alan Johnson said: "It was the fishing industry that produced the cod liver oil which set up Seven Seas.

"They made a fortune out of it and now they're leaving Hull – it's absolutely disgraceful."