Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has pledged to fully support those workers affected by the collapse of Wrightbus.
The Ballymena-based company, one of the borough’s key employers, entered administration after efforts to secure a new buyer for the firm were unsuccessful.
A special council meeting will be held on Tuesday evening to discuss the situation.
A redundancy clinic for Wrightbus employees will also take place on Friday (27 September) from 10am to 3pm at The Braid, in Ballymena. The clinic will provide support and advice.
Senior representatives of Council’s Manufacturing Taskforce, which is led up by Chief Executive Anne Donaghy, are also working closely with the firm and Invest NI.
The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Councillor Maureen Morrow has expressed her sadness following the loss of jobs.
Chair of Council’s Economic Growth Committee, Councillor Gregg McKeen, said as a Council, they will continue to give their full backing to efforts to protect jobs.
Councillor Timothy Gaston, who has also been heavily engaged with Wrightbus on behalf of Council, said the announcement was always the last resort.
“We are working with Wrightbus and other key partners to offer our full support to all affected by this process.
“Our area has suffered more than most in recent years, with the closures of JTI and Michelin in particular, but this is not the end of the road for Wrightbus.
“It is vital we all continue to work together to ensure the future of this world-leading company and its workforce, which for many of us includes family and close friends.
“Our citizens are resilient and as a Council we are fully committed to doing all we can to mitigate this announcement and providing our full support to those impacted.
“This borough has a track record of continuing to fight, even when people think it’s over, and we have helped companies to remain open or seek alternatives, including most recently the Kilroot and Ballylumford Power Stations, and the Michelin site.
“We will continue with this mindset in relation to Wrightbus,” he added.
Cllr McKeen said full backing from right across the United Kingdom is required, with everybody rallying right behind Wrightbus and its workers.
“Mid and East Antrim is proudly regarded as the engine room of the Northern Ireland manufacturing sector and despite the high-profile shocks of recent years, it’s a reputation we are actively building on through our Heathrow Hub bid and City Deal projects.
“It is absolutely crucial everything is done to ensure Wrightbus remains at the very heart of the future of Northern Ireland manufacturing.
“The announcement will lead to a call for a review of investment through City Deal into the Mid and East Antrim area,” he added.
Council are currently working closely with our statutory and voluntary partners and we will be providing a #Redundancy Clinic for #Wrightbus employees on:
Friday 27 September from 10am-3pm at The Braid, #Ballymena.
The clinic will provide initial support and advice. pic.twitter.com/yP1r7Gk6Oq
— Mid & East Antrim BC (@mea_bc) September 26, 2019