Halmatic jobs to be axed

Portchester-based VT Halmatic has told workers that up to 130 of the 270-strong workforce could be made redundant. The business has been under threat for some months and has now announced it is to cut costs by making fewer types of boats and reducing the workforce.

VT Shipbuilding managing director, Geoff Smith, who is responsible for VT Halmatic, said: ‘Following a decline in orders for some Ministry of Defence and commercial craft, we have undertaken a strategic review that will result in us exiting some product lines and restructuring the business. ‘We will work closely with employees of our Halmatic business to mitigate the effects of any job losses through our excellent record in re-training. ‘Our shipbuilding business is vibrant with a healthy order book for the Royal Navy and overseas customers. We hope that this will also provide some scope for redeploying personnel from Halmatic.’

VT Group has been reviewing the Halmatic site in recent months. Part of the site is in the process of being sold off to developers, possibly for housing, with the future of the rest of the site unclear. One option could be to move VT Halmatic to the naval base alongside VT Shipbuilding and sell the land off for housing.