A social enterprise based in Deighton has made 20 redundancies.
But the boss of Fresh Horizons says the job cuts were needed after a contract came to an end and the rest of the organisation is fine.
Executive Director Andi Briggs says the 20-strong workforce in the organisation’s construction team are all being made redundant after a two-year contract came to an end. The redundancy process should be complete by the end of this month.
The contract to totally renovate 60 derelict and semi-derelict homes across Kirklees and Calderdale had been jointly funded by the government, Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Housing.
Mr Briggs said: “Many of these homes had been empty for quite some time and were a blight on their communities. They have undergone a full refurbishment including new bathrooms and kitchens. It means we have put them back on the housing market and created both training and jobs throughout the contract.”
Mr Briggs said the other aspects of the organisation’s operations were not in any danger. Fresh Horizons employs a further 40 people and has an annual turnover of well over £1m.
Its main role is facilities management and Fresh Horizons runs 14 buildings mainly in the Deighton, Brackenhall and Leeds Road areas such as the Chestnut Centre, Northfield Hall community centre, Ingfield Enterprise Centre, Fartown Village Hall, Cowlersley Community Centre and Community House on Leeds Road along with nurseries at Community House and the Chestnut centre.
Fresh Horizons, which was set up 13 years ago, also provides the library contract for the Chestnut Centre on behalf of Kirklees Council.
It runs several social events including a carnival, music and community events, after-school clubs and an over 50s club.
Its mission statement says: “Our key role is in providing sustainable employment for people in areas of deprivation through contracting to deliver services and we work in close partnership with the local authority, other voluntary and community sector organisations and the private sector.”
