ONE of Huddersfield’s most well-known firms is to cut its workforce.

David Brown today confirmed that up to 75 jobs could be axed at its Lockwood premises from its 450-strong workforce.

But the engineering giant – which has just secured planning permission for a new factory in Mirfield – is also hoping to create some new posts.

The firm hopes to take on 30 additional employees and plans to continue recruiting apprentices.

News of the shock jobs blow was given to workers at a mass meeting in the canteen at the firm’s Park Works.

It left many of the workers stunned.

One said: “Letters have gone out to most of the shopfloor workforce and it seems those who will be leaving will be out by March 23.

“No-one had a clue. They called us in to the canteen and handed out the letters. A lot of people have worked at the firm for years.”

Brown’s have plans to relocate part of the business to a new site off Leeds Road, Mirfield, but intend to retain much of the Lockwood site.

It was announced yesterday, however, that Kirklees Council is buying part of the Park Works site for future investment.

A spokesman for the company, which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary said: “Due to the continued changing mix of workload and following a careful review of the business and core skill requirements, it is anticipated that the restructure will put around 75 current roles at risk of being made redundant.

“However at the same time 30 crucial new roles have been identified for recruitment in the UK this year to enable the business’s future growth plans.

“Over the last two years the business has invested heavily in new skills for developing markets like wind and tidal energy, creating more than 85 new roles and it is anticipated that over the next three to five years around 150 new jobs will be created in the renewables sector.

“The business which currently has 32 apprentices, will continue to invest in its scheme and plans to actively seek new apprentices to join again this year.”

Wayne Ball, General Manager at David Brown UK said: “Following a severe downturn in some of our traditional markets we have spent the last few years investing in the skills and technology to enable our diversification in to new and expanding markets and secure our future in the UK. We have had to adapt and change.

“The awarding of the major wind contract by Samsung last week is testament to the innovative approach of our team and shows just how far we have come.

“We have a responsibility to all our employees and customers to ensure we have the right capabilities and skills necessary to deliver our future growth plans and secure more contracts like this.

“Regrettably this will lead to some redundancies as the focus of the business shifts away from traditional markets to expanding opportunities in renewables.

“We recognise the need to retain as many of our highly skilled and loyal workforce as possible for our transition to these new growth sectors and we have transferred skills where we can and created new jobs.

“Our priority in the coming weeks is to work closely with all the people affected by the proposed changes and help them as much as we can.

“Wherever possible we will be looking to move people with relevant skills into the new roles identified or within the wider global business and we will work with those wishing to take voluntary redundancy or early retirement to minimise any compulsory redundancies.”

David Brown’s wind energy business, is forecast to grow significantly over the next several years and the company is investing heavily in the skills and a new state-of-the-art facility to enable the delivery of major wind projects, including the recently announced multi-million pound contract with Samsung Heavy Industries.

The Huddersfield firm will design, develop and build an innovative new gear system for the South Korean multinational’s next generation of offshore wind turbines and will be producing prototypes in the coming year with production scheduled to commence in 2013.