Wrightbus tight-lipped over new hirings after double-decker deal

Recently-rescued employer Wrightbus has remained tight-lipped about whether a new order for buses will spell extra staff, as one local politician hailed the firm’s future as “extremely promising”.
Jubilant workers at the Wrightbus factory last October, after it was announced that the firm could be salvaged after going into administrationJubilant workers at the Wrightbus factory last October, after it was announced that the firm could be salvaged after going into administration
Jubilant workers at the Wrightbus factory last October, after it was announced that the firm could be salvaged after going into administration

It comes after the Ballymena bus-builder revealed an order this week for 163 buses from English-based business, Rotala.

The order is worth £29m – with 128 of the 163 buses being double-deckers.

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Wrightbus was asked by the News Letter if the new order means extra workers will be hired, and if so how many.

However, the firm declined to provide an answer.

Wrightbus had gone into administration last September, and was purchased in October by a firm called the Bamford Bus Company.

The firm had been incorporated just a month earlier.

It is registered in central London, and Joseph Cyril Edward Bamford is listed as the sole director.

It was reported at the time that when the firm went into administration it spelled the end for roughly 1,200 jobs.

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Today, whilst it has been recently reported that there was 400 people in the business, the firm has today confirmed that the true number of employees is actually 550.

Although exactly what the new order will mean for jobs remains unclear, long-serving Larne DUP councillor Gregg McKeen, chairman of the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council growth committee, said the new order was “a fantastic step in the journey to rebuild the Wrightbus brand”.

“The Wrightbus name has been renowned as a global leader in manufacturing and innovation, and this investment proves the future is extremely exciting and promising for this Mid and East Antrim-based firm,” he added.

John McLeister, sales and business development director at Wrightbus, said the deal helped place a “great Northern Ireland business at the forefront of the UK’s bus industry”.

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He said: “These state-of-the-art buses will be fitted with our low-emission third generation Micro Hybrid system to reduce the emissions of each bus. This is part of our commitment to producing the next generation of low and zero-emission buses.

“With the recent government commitment to support the modernisation of the UK’s bus fleet to deliver for the changing needs of passengers, it is an exciting time for the industry and the future of Wrightbus.”

The BBC’s Spotlight programme reported this week that, in January 2019, the then-parent company of Wrightbus, Cornerstone, made a £1.35 million donation to Green Pastures Church.

Jeff Wright, the controlling shareholder of Cornerstone, was also a director of the church.

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Meanwhile, questions have been asked of Invest NI over a £2.5 million emergency loan to Wrightbus.

Invest NI had responded by saying: “Had this loan (of which £1.5m has already been repaid) not been advanced, it is very unlikely the company would be operating today under new management.”

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