We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to save LDV - Save Jobs in UK and the Environment.”
Details of Petition:
“Struggling van-maker LDV has asked the government for millions of pounds in loans to help secure its future. It wants access to bridging loans to tide it over while it presses ahead with plans for a management buy-out. The company, which employs 900 people in Birmingham and 5000 nationally, has seen sales plummet and suspended production in December. LDV is planning to introduce the world’s first electric light commercial vehicle from a volume manufacturer in 2009. Built in Birmingham, the electric MAXUS will offer UK businesses, councils and local authorities the opportunity to locally source a zero emission light commercial vehicle to minimise their carbon footprint. LDV has become one of only five companies to be successfully short listed on the DfT low carbon initiative to supply electric vehicles to councils and local authorities from 2009. We want the company to survive to save jobs in the UK and the MAXUS. Government should be supporting workers in the UK and green industries need to be developed to tackle the climate change. Sign this petition to call on the government to secure the future for LDV.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
The Government is keenly aware of the impact that the collapse of LDV, which entered Administration in June 2009, has had on its workforce, its suppliers and everyone else that depended on its business.
The automotive sector is of key importance to the UK and the Government has been supporting the sector in a range of ways – including through the Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP) and the Vehicle Scrappage Scheme.
The Government did all it reasonably could to support LDV, including offering a one-off £5m bridging loan facility in the hope that the company could be sold as a going concern to a potential investor, Weststar. It was disappointing that, despite the bridging facility, Weststar was unable to proceed with its purchase of LDV and, with no further funding available from the company’s owner (Gaz), that LDV’s Board concluded that the company had to go into Administration.
Government and Advantage West Midlands had already previously invested approximately £25m to support the company in its efforts to create a viable business.
Government’s priority has been to support those who found themselves out of a job. A Rapid Response Team was set up along with the LDV Taskforce – made up of JobCentre Plus, Advantage West Midlands, the Learning and Skills Council, Birmingham City Council and neighbouring local authorities. The focus was to offer a tailored package of support to help people get back into work as quickly as possible, with support including provision of training, job fairs, help for those seeking to claim benefits and a dedicated Jobcentre Plus helpline.
