Clarks shutters Somerset factory with loss of 35 jobs

The footwear specialist has shuttered the Morelight facility, in Street, following a consultation with staff.

Clarks said that 10 staff from the facility had been redeployed elsewhere in the business, but 35 workers have been made redundant as a result of the closure.

The decision means that Clarks will no longer manufacture any of its products in Britain. In 2005, Clarks closed its Cumbria factory and relocated those operations to East Asia.

As previously reported, the retailer launched a consultation with all staff members at the Morelight factory in January after it failed to meet manufacturing and cost targets.

The multimillion-pound facility only opened in 2017. At the time, Clarks said the factory would produce 300,000 pairs of desert boots a year.

A Clarks spokeswoman said: “In January 2019, we announced a proposal to cease production and close our Morelight manufacturing facility in Street.

“Despite our best efforts, the levels of production and cost targets we hoped for could not be reached in the short to medium term and following a period of consultation, the proposal has been accepted and the factory will close.

“We have a strong duty of care to all our employees and have been supporting them through this process, offering outplacement support and identifying alternative roles at Clarks. We’re pleased that 10 employees have taken up a new role within our business, but regrettably the remaining 35 employees will be leaving us. They leave with our thanks and best wishes for the future.”