Fifty jobs at risk at Hesco as Leeds firm founded by Jimi Heselden seeks to offshore jobs to Poland

As many as 50 jobs at one of Leeds’s best known manufacturing businesses are at risk of being relocated to Eastern Europe, The Yorkshire Post has learned.
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Hesco, which employs 150 people worldwide, has been based in Leeds for 30 years and produces defence and protective equipment for use by armed forces or to protect against floods and erosion.

The firm is now owned by the Praesidiad who confirmed it is considering moving some or all of its manufacturing roles currently located in Yorkshire to Poland as part of a restructure.

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In total 35 full time members of staff, along with 15 part time roles are impacted.

Jimi HeseldenJimi Heselden
Jimi Heselden

The Yorkshire Post understands that among the options it is examining is either operating a hybrid model with some jobs kept in Leeds and the others shifted to Poland, as well as the option of all Leeds roles being transferred to Poland.

Hesco, or Hesco Bastion as it is sometimes referred to, was founded by legendary Leeds entrepreneur Jimi Heselden, who grew the business from a Leeds workshop to become a globally dominate player.

The products his firm produced included semipermanent blast walls he developed himself which were deployed extensively during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as to reinforce levees around New Orleans in the few days between Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Camp Bastion in Afghanistan is named after its products.

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A spokesperson for Praesidiad said: “We can confirm that as part of a strategic review of the Praesidiad business we have started a consultation process with affected employees at our factory in Leeds.

Hesco products at risk being used in Afghanistan.Hesco products at risk being used in Afghanistan.
Hesco products at risk being used in Afghanistan.

“The GMB Union, which represents some of our employees, has been informed and will be part of the consultation process.”

He added: “In line with our legal obligations, we are unable to make any further statements at this stage.”

If the jobs are transferred to Poland it would be the end of an era for the firm founded by Mr Heselden, died 10 years ago when he fell off a cliff while driving a Segway.

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A self-made multimillionaire, Mr Heselden left school at 15 and became a coal miner.

After being made redundant following the strikes of 1985-86 he used his redundancy payout to found Hesco.

A renowned philanthropist, he donated tens of millions of pounds to local charities and was awarded an OBE in 2006.

Unions have reacted angrily to the decision, with Neil Cole, regional organiser for the GMB in Yorkshire, urging the firm to “help rebuild the economy in Britain”.

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Mr Cole said: “This is a British born company founded by Jimi Heselden, who did a lot of good stuff in Leeds, which makes this even more of a shame.

“We will work with the company but clearly those jobs need to remain here in Leeds and will do everything possible to make that happen.”

Employment at Hesco’s Leeds site has been falling for some time and sees quite sporadic orders.

However Mr Cole said employees were “shocked”.

“Staff have worked hard during the coronavirus crisis. They will be very worried about losing their jobs when there is already so much uncertainty.

“You are talking about people who have worked for Hesco for 20 years in some cases.

“We will be pushing the company regarding this decision to keep its traditional Leeds manufacturing site.”