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Warehousing

‘We feel more like robots than workers…’ – Devastated staff speak out as Stoke-on-Trent warehouse to shut with loss of 529 jobs

One of the 529 employees set to lose their jobs at a warehouse have told how they ‘feel more like robots than workers’.

They are desperate to find a new job after being told the H&M warehouse will close at Radial Point, Sideway, on May 15.

But they say their attempts to find alternative work at North Staffordshire’s other warehouses are being blocked by agencies until the H&M site shuts.

The workers are being axed after H&M revealed it is moving its operations to a new warehouses in Milton Keynes.



The H&M warehouse, at Radial Point, Sideway

One worker told StokeonTrentLive: “Some of us are trying to find jobs in nearby warehouses like Dunelm where there is more space, but no-one will hire us.

“We need to look for jobs so we feel secure. The agency has promised to help us find a job after May 15, but we need to know we have a job straight away – we have families to support.

“We feel more like robots than workers and they are not thinking about our families at home. I have two children and a wife to support. I feel like I’ve been manipulated and it’s not fair at all.

“It had been a good job until recently. I don’t want to go and work in Milton Keynes – it’s too far away. They wouldn’t be able to hire us all anyway, so people are still going to be left disappointed and without jobs.”



The new H&M warehouse at Milton Keynes

The bigger and better warehouse will serve customers and stores throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

But former employee Andy Kilbride says the Sideway warehouse was never big enough when he worked there.

He said: “I worked there for four years and we were always struggling for space and the more H&M grew the harder it was to keep up with the space.

“However I think the choice to move is purely to save money. The new site in Milton Keynes is going to be run by H&M and not outsourced to logistics companies and agencies. It will also serve all the H&M stores across the country which in turn will save them money in fuel costs because they will be closer to the southern ports.”

John Sproston has seen the Milton Keynes warehouse spring up – and has a warning for Stoke-on-Trent workers.

He said: “It is absolutely massive. I would think this Stoke-on-Trent distribution centre will not be the only one to go. It is more cost effective to have everything in one huge building than lots of little ones.

“Stoke-on-Trent needs to evolve not just dwell on what we have. Hopefully the new projects on Shelton Bar and other areas will provide work for these people once the move happens.”

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A new operator is still being sought for the warehouse.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce chief executive Sara Williams said: “Staffordshire’s geographical location and acknowledged expertise in modern warehousing means we are a great place for logistics companies to do great business, therefore it is a great shame to see H&M relocate to Milton Keynes.

“We’d like to work with Make It Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and the inward investment team to find a suitable tenant for this excellent space. We also urge any affected staff members who have thought about starting their own business to get in touch so that we can offer direct support.”

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