BRITISH WATERWAYS ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR JOB LOSSES
Restructure focuses on improving front line delivery of
customer services while reducing costs
British Waterways has begun consultation with trades unions
on its plans to shed 180 jobs by April 2007 in response to its need to become
even more efficient in its management of the country’s 2,200-mile waterway
network. The redundancies, announced today, are part of restructuring plans
designed to bring a greater focus to customer service delivery on the bankside.
The announcement comes at a time when the Government has announced reductions
in funding to British Waterways.
A key part of the plan involves the merging of two existing
business units – Central Shires and West Midlands – into a single
unit committed to delivering services and facilities across the heart of the
country’s canal network. The new unit will be headed up by Tony Harvey,
the existing Central Shires general manager, and will be based in BW’s
offices at Fazeley, near Tamworth.
In making this announcement BW’s directors have also
taken the opportunity to assess the effectiveness of current waterway unit
structures and have made a number of changes to deliver improvements in
customer service and business efficiency. Each unit will have three senior
managers focusing on delivering:
- activities with customers, such as waterside business
development;
- activities on behalf of customers, such as a rapid
response team to fix reported problems quickly; and,
- activities that contribute to the maintenance of the
waterways’ infrastructure, such as managing major works programmes.
Job losses will be concentrated amongst office-based staff
where it is believed the greatest levels of efficiency can be achieved whilst
maintaining and improving on-the-ground service delivery to the millions of
people who enjoy the canal network every year. The restructure is expected to
provide savings of £5m per annum, helping BW to meet the financial
pressures it is currently facing with a reduction in Government grant.
Robin Evans, British Waterways Chief Executive, says:
“We remain committed to achieving our Vision and in doing so we have to
make difficult decisions along the way. I am announcing these decisions today
because they are essential if we are to maintain our rate of progress.
“I accept that this is difficult news but we cannot
be complacent in our management of the waterways network. We must constantly
adapt and change to the circumstances around us, remaining committed to our
Vision of an expanded, vibrant, largely self-sufficient network enjoyed by an
ever increasing numbers of visitors”.
Notes to editors:
Redundancies: Every business unit and central
department will be affected by redundancies. Approximately one third of the
proposed redundancies will arise from the merger of Central Shires and West
Midlands business units. A further third are expected to be found in other
waterway units, while the remainder will come from Central office functions
with currently employ approximately 300 people (20% reduction).
Consultation: formal consultation has begun with
trades unions representing BW staff. The employment stability policy, which
applies to those people whose terms and conditions of employment are governed
by the employment provisions, will guide the 12-week period of
consultation. |
