The wind turbine maker Vestas has said it will cut 300 jobs at its Isle of Wight factory.
Staff at the plant in Newport have been told at least half of its manufacturing operation, which employs 600 people, will be cut amid changing demand for turbine blades.
Vestas, a Danish manufacturer with operations in 88 countries, is switching from making offshore blades to smaller, onshore blades, which will only sustain 300 jobs at the site, it said.
The factory opened in 2002 and makes an older type of offshore wind turbine blade which is much smaller than new models. Vestas said it has agreed with the government that it can make blades for onshore windfarms instead, helping to keep 300 jobs.
Anders Nielsen, an executive vice-president and chief technology officer at Vestas, said: “We are pleased that this partnership in principle with the UK government means we can continue manufacturing activities at the Isle of Wight to support the…
