Furniture firm to axe jobs

Steelcase blames job cuts on "global downturn"

More than 100 people could lose their jobs when a Margate-based office furniture manufacturer closes down.

Steelcase's office in the Westwood Industrial Estate, on Ramsgate Road, will close in October and follows similar moves at sites in France, Portugal and the US.

The decision to close the manufacturing site in Kent is being blamed on a downturn in the industry as well as a global surplus in the market.

Help for workers

The jobs that will go in early October are mainly from the manufacturing and engineering sections, and the company is already liaising with the local authority over plans to sell the site.

Steelcase is promising to help find alternative employment for the 107 workers effected, but admits that very few are likely to find work at any of its other offices.

The company's distribution site in Margate will be unaffected and Steelcase will continue to operate overseas.