Housing company might cut 40 jobs

Connect puts gas, water and electricity into new housing estates

A company which connects electricity, gas and water to new homes could cut nearly a quarter of its workforce.

Cardiff-based Connect employs 170 people and expects to lose about 40 jobs as a result of the downturn in the house building and sales markets.

It has announced the proposals to staff and will start discussions with them over its proposed redundancy plans

The company installs utility services at new housing development sites across the UK.

Connect cited an all-time low in new housing sales, the 30% fall in mortgage approvals and the predicted decline in sales and operational activity as reasons for its planned redundancies.

The company plans to offer employees transition services, such as outplacement support, as part of its proposed severance package.

It also hopes it will be able to re-employ some of those it lets go and will open a re-employment register for when market conditions improve.