Chancellor George Osborne has vowed to support AstraZeneca staff as the firm prepares to axe up to 350 workers from Alderley Park.

The pharmaceuticals giant announced last week 7,300 jobs will go globally by the end of 2014 as it looks to save £1bn.

Bosses refused to reveal the sites affected but it is understood  250-350 jobs are at risk at Alderley Park’s Research and Development, specifically in the cardiovascular department.

That is 10 per cent of the  3,500-strong workforce – and some backroom positions could also go.

There has been no announcement regarding Macclesfield, the group’s second largest manufacturing with about 2,600 staff.

Tatton MP Mr Osborne, said: “I know the news of job losses at AstraZeneca will be unsettling to many people who work there. I want to do everything I can to help those affected. The company has taken the decision because of worldwide circumstances – and locally we should take some comfort the great majority of the job losses will take place overseas and that AstraZeneca is continuing to put new investment into both Alderley Park and Macclesfield.

“I am in touch with their senior management, who have reiterated their commitment to the area and will continue to work with them to ensure we keep high-skilled jobs in Cheshire in the years to come.”
Macclesfield MP David Rutley said: “Clearly the pharmaceutical industry is going through a very challenging time with many patents expiring, which is reducing expenditure on R&D.

“But our first thoughts need to be with the families who are affected and I've already been talking to AstraZeneca who have assured me there will be proper support available to review career options and relocation opportunities.

“I’ve also spoken to Cheshire East council and they will be bringing a very effective redundancy task force in to help provide support.”

Alan Black, national officer for the GMB union, said a 90-day consultation period on local job losses had begun.

He said: “These cutting-edge R&D jobs are both well-paid and essential for a thriving UK economy. As a nation, we do need to find a viable way to continue to make breakthroughs in bringing to safe use much-needed new medicines.”

Linda McCulloch, Unite national officer, said: “This is a blow to Britain’s R&D base and Unite will be doing everything possible to minimise compulsory redundancies at Alderley Park.”

Astra is the UK’s second biggest drugs maker, with 61,000 staff globally, of whom 8,000 are based in Britain.

It axed 12,600 positions between 2007 and 2009 and another 9,000 roles by the end of last year.

The latest blow came as the Cheshire-based company announced a two per cent fall in revenues to £21.1bn for 2011, while pre-tax profits fell four per cent to £8.4bn.

Tweet