Concerns over Baughurst electronics company

Ultra Electronic CIS acquired Wood and Douglas in October 2013 when founder and manager of the radio communications company Alan Wood said: “For some time I have been looking to secure the long term future of Wood & Douglas in partnership with a company that shares our commitment to innovation and customer service. I am delighted that Wood & Douglas can continue to thrive as a business owned by Ultra Electronics CIS.”
But last month, the offices at Saffron Walden were closed and the manufacturing department at the Baughurst head office which employs around sixty people was relocated to Ultra Electronics’ head office at Greenford, resulting in approximately twelve job losses.
Now local fears have been raised that more closures and redundancies may follow, and that remaining sites at Aldermaston and Romsey are under threat.
Three jobs were lost at Saffron Walden and nine jobs as a result of moving the manufacturing department at Baughurst to Greenford according to the company, which employs around 70 people at Wood & Douglas.
Susan Mcerlain speaking on behalf of Ultra Electronics said of any further closures: “We don’t know at this stage, but I don’t think there would be any more closures.
“If the economy expands we will be expanding our facilities and if not we would be looking at in due course reducing our facilities.
“It is early days yet and we do not comment on individual businesses at the local level.”
She also said that the previous closure and integration of the manufacturing facility at Baughurst “made sense” from an economic standpoint.
Explaining the closure of Saffron Walden on September 26, company spokesperson Shona Wright said: “Saffron Walden was very much a satellite office and we could operate more efficiently in other places. We have a newly refurbished manufacturing department here at Greenford and the facilities here are superior.”
Asked whether other sites at Aldermaston and Romsey would remain open she said: “That is the case and it remains the case as of this present moment.”
Wood & Douglas has been trading as a wireless technology specialist for more than 36 years and is a market leader in radio communications technology.
It was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade last year and reported sales turnover of more than £8m.
When approached directly, a spokesman for Wood & Douglas told the Newbury Weekly News that Ultra Electronics was responsible for answering media enquiries and that therefore, they would not be commenting.