Power firm jobs at risk as consultation launched

An energy company which operates a major power station in North Yorkshire has announced that up to 350 job roles could be at risk across the firm.

Drax Group, which is based in Selby and currently employs over 3,000 people in the UK and North America, said it was "evolving its strategy" and planned changes were "key to our long-term success and our continued commitment to deliver UK energy security".

A spokesperson for the firm said it was launching a consultation process in the UK and would be "briefing colleagues in North America on changes".

The Unite union criticised the move, saying it was "nothing more than a cost-saving exercise, with Drax choosing to put profits before people".

Shane Sweeting, Unite regional officer, said the union would focus on protecting its members' jobs and "pushing Drax to reverse this nonsensical decision".

A Drax spokesperson said the recent signing of an agreement with the UK government was a "recognition of the important role Drax Power Station will continue to play for UK energy security into the 2030s".

"Moving forwards, we're focused on driving growth in our flexible generation business, creating new options and opportunities at Drax Power Station beyond 2031 and advancing future uses of sustainable biomass."

To help "realise these opportunities", the company was adapting its organisational structure and would work with colleagues and unions, they added.

However, Sweeting said it was "unbelievable" that Drax was "looking at cutting jobs at this time, not creating more opportunities for employment".

Meanwhile, Selby MP Keir Mather said he was "really concerned" by the news and its possible impact on workers at the power station in his constituency.

"We, of course, need to see more detail about what these plans are, but I can't imagine how uncertain a time this must be for workers at the power station," he said.

"I've reached out to trade unions, who I'm going to be engaging with closely to offer any help and support I can.

"But my thoughts go out to all the workers at Drax and their families at this really difficult time."

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