New hope for Goodyear workers as Screwfix comes to the rescue

The nine Wolverhampton workers - made redundant following Goodyear's announcement of closure - are the first of up to between 70-100 former tyre factory staff to be given new jobs by logistics company Wincanton.

The Stafford site at Junction 14 of the M6 is operated by Wincanton supply chain logistics company on behalf of Screwfix.

The men will be employed by Wincanton, but work for Screwfix.

Wincanton representatives first met with a large number of the work force at a recruitment fair, put on by Goodyear, last November.

Throughout last December around 70 former Goodyear employees had the opportunity to look around the Screwfix base just off junction 14 in Stafford, meeting staff and gaining an understanding of the company's profile.

Jason Tweedale, 49, of Sedgley, was one of the nine who landed a role.

He said: "It was a long and difficult process at Goodyear. It's still difficult for the guys that are still there now. We've moved here with guys that we know and trust and have friendships with, it makes it a lot easier."

Communications manager Gez Prendergast played a big part in bridging the gap between Wincanton and the potential employees, he said: "We've had some of the guys who already work here showing them around.

"We thought it important to have people who know what a day's work is like here."

Wincanton aim at targeting more of those to be made redundant at Goodyear throughout the remainder of 2016.

Nick Dulleston, who operates shifts at Wincanton, added: "One of the key things for us is that we're trying to get these people that have worked together for a long time together in the factory.

"As much as we were trying to make sure that they were right for us, the key thing was making sure that we were right for them."