Fresh jobs blow for textile trade

Hawick Cashmere specialises in luxury knitwear

A second knitwear jobs cutback has been announced in a Scottish Borders town in the space of a week.

Hawick Cashmere plans to shed 12 posts due to a company reorganisation and the installation of new technology.

It follows the announcement of 36 job losses at the town's Hawick Knitwear on Monday.

Hawick Cashmere's chief executive Jim Thomson said the decision to axe the posts had been made with "regret" but would safeguard 100 remaining jobs.

Hawick Cashmere - which produces luxury knitwear garments - said the 12 job losses were part of the final reorganisation which began in 2006 at its Duke Street factory.

As from January the company will only produce entirely seamless knitwear.

'Reeling in shock'

Mr Thomson said: "We deeply regret these job losses, but this significant investment will ensure the long term future of our manufacturing base in Scotland and protect the jobs of our 100 employees."

The company points out that it has recently acquired additional machinery bringing the total investment in the last two years to �2m in the seamless knitwear plant.

Earlier this month Hawick Cashmere opened its 14th worldwide retail store in Tokyo, Japan - the company's first in Asia.

Berwickshire and Roxburgh MSP John Lamont said the latest development had left the town "reeling in shock".

He said: "Although Hawick Cashmere is and remains one of the most successful textiles firms in Hawick and the Borders, it is unfortunate that the new technology and company reorganisation has resulted in these redundancies."

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