Butcher faces cruellest cut

By Mark Hutchings BBC Radio Five Live, Wales

Nearly 30 years after first donning his apron, butcher Wayne Grist is facing up to the toughest decision of his working life.

He is laying off half his workforce. Hard enough for any small businessman. Much worse when those losing their jobs are your two sons.

With sales lower than they have ever been, these young men are leaving the Ebbw Vale shop to join thousands of others looking for work in Blaenau Gwent.

Like many others, they are probably not qualified for the post of watersports photographer that I found among the list of vacancies advertised at the nearby job centre. Watersports photography has never been hugely popular at the top of the South Wales valleys.

Swamped

On an average day, there are about 100 local jobs listed on the job centre computer - one for every 30 people claiming job seekers' allowance in the area.

No-one likes to let their children down but that is the only way forward Wayne Grist, butcher

This area has struggled to produce much employment since the demise of steel-making. The new railway station has helped by improving transport links, but if anyone thought the recession could hardly make things worse, then think again.

"It has been difficult," admits JobCentre Plus manager Geraint Williams. "We have seen unprecedented numbers of people coming in recent months."

The response, he says, is to lay on extra staff (ironically enough) and better training and guidance.

That includes a back-to-work seminar in which advisors present tips and home truths.

Slim pickings

As I sat in on one session, we heard how most vacancies can now be found online and how supply is often swamped by demand. One supermarket driver's job in the area attracted 490 applications.

If you can run a business in today's climate, then you will have learned the lessons for when times get better Gareth Jehu, Subway

Maybe the Olympic dream can help.

We were told that jobs are starting to come on stream in preparation for 2012. Applicants will need to travel, of course, as Ebbw Vale was not part of the London bid.

Among those listening is former fireman, Michael Gardener. "You can't afford to pick and choose," he says. "There are hundreds of people chasing one job. It feels like it's you against the rest of the world."

Unemployed HGV driver Donald Thurlow has also joined the queue.

"It's a mire out there, especially in this part of the world. There are an awful of lot drivers and not that many jobs. You have to try to keep positive and hope someone will see your qualities," he says.

Jobs boost

Back in the High Street, I may have found a green shoot. One entrepreneur is proving to be the most popular man in town.

Gareth Jehu has just opened his second Subway franchise. At a time of shop closures, an opening seems almost freakish. He was swamped with applications for his 11 posts.

Daniel's father has been forced to lay him off from the family business

"Business is very good at the moment." he says.

He also explains that the difficult market-place has created a certain "negotiation strategy", which means you can try to barter for lower rent.

"If you can run a business in today's climate, then you will have learned the lessons for when times get better. As long as there's enough money in the till to pay the wages and the bills, then I'm happy."

But a couple of hundred yards away, the till in Grist Family Butchers is by no means full.

Hard hit

Owner Wayne Grist tells me that, at one time, there were 14 butchers in the area, now he's the last.

It's partly a consequence of a change in people's eating and shopping habits, but he says that over the past year he's been hit hard.

"This is the lowest we've ever been," he says starkly. "Trade is just dwindling from week to week. On an average day we are 50% down on sales from this time last year."

So is that the recession?

"Definitely, definitely, definitely," he says.

The only way he and his wife can carry on running the business is by laying off their sons, aged 24 and 26, he adds.

"I've discussed it with them but now the time for discussion is over. You feel a failure. No-one likes to let their children down but that is the only way forward."

He hopes the time will come when trade will pick up and he can re-employ them. But, for now, this is one shop that isn't quite the family business it once was.

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