All RDAs across England are closing by March 2012
(see transition and closure section).
With our resources reducing steadily, this page has not been recently updated and the information below may not be current.
If in doubt, please contact us directly.
We will work to minimise the impact of the Cadbury closure
11 February 2010
Since the Kraft takeover of
Cadbury was formally agreed, the South West RDA has
been holding urgent talks with the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), DEFRA, and other agencies to
understand the full impact of the takeover on the region and across
the UK.
Following Kraft’s latest announcement, Ann
O’Driscoll, head of business development at the RDA, said:
“While it is perhaps not surprising that Kraft
will be continuing with Cadbury’s plans to close the Somerdale
factory in Keynsham, we are disappointed that they initially raised
local expectations that the plant could be saved from closure."
"Locally, we will continue to work with our
partners to minimise the impact of the Somerdale closure on the
workforce and local economy. This includes working with the Cadbury
Human Resources Team, outplacement consultant DBM, the Union
and Job Centre Plus to help staff look for new jobs."
"We are also working with the company, the
local authority and the town council to explore the options
for the future use of the Somerdale site and encouraging
initiatives that promote the local economy.”
The South West RDA was instrumental in
setting up the Cadbury Response Team following the original closure
announcement by Cadbury in January 2008. This team helps
co-ordinate this work and will continue to provide joined-up
support for staff affected by this announcement.
Members of the Cadbury Response Team
include South West RDA, Dan Norris MP, Cadbury, Job
Centre Plus, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Business Link,
GWE Business West, Keynsham Local Partnerships, Keynsham Town
Council, the Unite Union, West at Work and Government Office
for the South West. The neighbouring authorities of South
Gloucestershire and Bristol City Council are also engaged as two
thirds of the workforce live in those two administrative areas.