MORE than 80 former workers of wind turbine maker Vestas who lost their jobs when the Isle of Wight and Southampton plants were shut earlier this year, have found new jobs.
A further 90 are in training and education, the Government has revealed as South-East minister Jonathan Shaw paid a visit to the region.
They are the lucky ones of the 427 who lost their jobs in the closure, which made headlines around Europe because of an 18-day sit in protest by angry workers.
He dropped in to see a course at Southampton City College, where 17 former Vestas staff have signed up to use their expertise to retrain as aluminium welders.
The course at Southampton City College was designed to help candidates secure jobs at South Boats in West Cowes.
Mr Shaw, who also visited the Isle of Wight, said: “This result is a positive reflection of the workers’ strength in the face of adversity.
Credit should also go to the partners who have been instrumental in advising and guiding the workers - JobCentrePlus staff and SEEDA, the regional development agency.”
Anne-Marie Mountifield from the Learning and Skills Council, which spent £250,000 on aluminium welding bays and training programmes at Southampton City College, said 17 former Vestas staff had signed up to use their expertise to retrain as aluminium welders.
Vestas said its factories closed because of a lack of orders. The Government has rejected union calls to nationalise and reopen the Isle of Wight plant.
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