A major employer is axing almost 100 jobs – saying it has "no choice but to adjust its operating model".

Pharmaceutical company Recipharm AB announced today it will be cutting more than a third of its workforce at its Queenborough facility.

A statement from the company, which has production facilities around the world, said: "Today, we regrettably announced to our employees at our site in Queenborough, that we are proposing to start a consultation period with them.

"We are acutely aware that this is a difficult time for our employees and we will do what we can to support them.

"We will be consulting with union and employee representative over the next few weeks."

Recipharm, which took over Aesica Pharmaceuticals in February 2020, employs 255 people at its site in North Road.
It is consulting over the loss of 97 jobs until the end of March.

The statement continued: "One of our main customers is exiting the site at the end of quarter one of the 2023 financial year as their product is now a generic medicine.

"As a result, we have carried out a detailed evaluation of the site’s operations.

"Unfortunately, we have no choice but to adjust our operating model to focus on our core capabilities, to ensure we are efficient, agile, and competitive when attracting new business.

"The majority of the site’s activities are finished dose formulation and the production and packaging of tablets, capsules and liquids for medicines, on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry.”

Despite the announcement, Recipharm has confirmed it intends to stay on the Island.

A spokesman explained: "Our commercial focus, alongside efficient execution of the new business we have already secured, gives us the best chance to secure our future.

"Today’s announcement is about restructuring at the site.

"So this is not in any way about leaving the Island, our objective is to support the long-term sustainability of the Queenborough site."

In 2020 the company reduced its workforce on Sheppey by 26.

At the time general manager Peter Kruger said the jobs were going to be taken from the administrative side of the business.

It followed a restructure.

Unite the Union, which will be supporting employees, has been contacted for comment.