AstraZeneca released a statement yesterday announcing it is to close its Loughborough pharmaceutical plant next year, as part of its worldwide restructuring programme. The 69-acre research and development site employs 1200 people.
This follows the news in January that an additional 8000 jobs would go worldwide over the next four years from the global supply chain, sales, administration and R&D.
Smaller plants in Cambridge and Sweden will also shut. However, the number of people employed in R&D at Alderley Park will actually increase, as some members of staff will be offered the opportunity to relocate there. Bosses said it was too early to say how many positions will be available but more news is expected in the next few months.
AstraZeneca employs over 60,000 people worldwide with Alderley Park being
a key site in the AstraZeneca global network. 4,500 people are based there, dedicated to research & development, operations, international sales & marketing, product strategy & licensing.
Alderley Park is part of AstraZeneca’s significant presence in the north west. Together with several satellite offices in the surrounding area, plus a major site at Macclesfield, they employ around 7,500 people in Cheshire.
