Redundancy support offered to sugar factory staff

British Sugar staff facing redundancy are being offered support to find other work.

The company announced on Tuesday it was looking to close its facility at Cantley, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, to "improve efficiency and support the long-term future" of the UK sugar industry.

Norfolk County Council said it was offering support to those impacted by the closure proposals.

It said it understood that 104 jobs were at risk.

The County Hall-run redundancy support programme, set up last year, helps people access the jobs market, and offers advice including benefits information and training.

Help with writing job applications and CVs and interview techniques are also available.

Kabeer Kher, the local authority's cabinet member for business, skills and agriculture, said: "The news about the closure of the Cantley production plant will be a terrible blow to the workforce.

"We know that losing a job, or facing the prospect of redundancy, can be incredibly challenging, and our redundancy support service can be quickly deployed and work with partner organisations to help people in this situation take their next steps with confidence."

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British Sugar said a consultation would be held over its closure proposals, which would concentrate the company's beet processing operations at Wissington in west Norfolk, Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and Newark, Nottinghamshire.

The firm said all employees at Cantley could be affected by the plans, and discussions would begin with the Unite union and other employee representatives.

The unions have been approached for comment.

The Cantley site was the UK's first sugar beet processing factory and has been in operation since 1912. Last year it was given an £11m upgrade to improve its energy efficiency.

Jerome Mayhew, Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, called the news "devastating" and said it could have wider cost implications for Norfolk farmers.

Mayhew said British Sugar told him it had been loss-making for the past three years as demand for sugar was on a long-term decline.

The company confirmed that "all Cantley growers will be invited to continue growing sugar beet for the 2027/28 campaign and beyond".

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