Recruitment fair for 600 staff affected by Sheffield food factory closure

Pennine Foods has announced plans to close its factory at Drakehouse, which employs 600 people.

Sheffield Council and its partners have been working to provide support to staff affected the closure.

As part of that commitment, the council arranged a two-day recruitment fair, where more than 20 local companies were invited to promote their current job vacancies.

The idea was to gave Pennine staff the chance to find out more about a variety of organisations and vacancies they could apply for.

Coun Mazher Iqbal, council cabinet member for business and investment, said: “Through its links with employers in Sheffield and the wider Sheffield City Region, the council was able to get as many companies there as possible, and the feedback from the recruiters was that it was an excellent opportunity to meet the staff who have a great deal of experience to offer to prospective employers."They welcomed the fact that it made it so much easier to meet so many people over the course of the event.”

The council is continuing to work with Pennine Foods, Job Centre Plus and Prospects to ensure that the 600 staff affected by the closure of the factory have access to the help and support they need.

The dedicated support will help staff to make the best choices about their future to maximise the opportunity to find suitable alternative employment, move into another work area or start their own business.

Lois Sarginson, Pennine Foods human resources manager, said: “We welcome the support and opportunities offered to our colleagues in their job search from all employers in the Sheffield region.”

The Pennine Foods site, on Drake House Crescent, is due to cease production on May 21.

Bosses launched a consultation in October saying the site was heavily loss-making.

A spokesman said at the time: “Regretfully we confirmed closure of our loss-making Pennine Foods site in Sheffield in November following our 45-day consultation.

“It was not an easy decision and our continued focus has been to support colleagues.”