Annette Brooke achieves some success for the future of Remploy in Poole

4.07.44pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 13th Aug 2007

Annette Brooke is supporting Poole's Remploy workers in opposing Government plans to close the factory

Annette Brooke has been working with Remploy, Poole Council and other partners and speaking up in Parliament to save the Remploy factory in Poole. She has a vision of developing a centre of excellence for training people with disabilities on the site whilst retaining the factory and protecting the existing vulnerable workforce.

'Many of the current workforce have been there for over 20 years and it is unrealistic to expect them to adapt to a new working environment. These jobs must be protected whilst the site is transformed over a period of time to serve the needs of the disabled for the future. It is certainly the case that younger disabled people entering the workforce want to be supported in mainstream employment. With my plan we can provide for the future and protect the present workers,' said Annette.

Remploy originally proposed to close the factory in Alder Hills, Poole, and instead provide a recruitment office in Southampton. Annette's representations have resulted in the following commitment from Remploy

"We are interested in an idea of a sort of one stop shop which would involve short training/ development by us of disabled people to support them into mainstream employment, alongside longer term training for specific skills for people further from the Labour market. We are still working on that.'

If agreed upon, this facility will be in Poole.

Annette said ' this is a move in the right direction but we still do not have a commitment to protect the jobs of the existing workers and so the fight goes on.