Customs House rules out job losses in staff shake-up following '˜ordeals'

The Customs House, in Mill Dam, South Shields, is introducing a new staffing structure which, bosses say, will improve standards and offer employees new options.

Customs House executive director Ray Spencer said: “Since our ordeals of 2015, the Customs House has shown significant growth thanks to the support of our customers, sponsors and grant givers.

“In order to deliver an improved service we are introducing a new staffing structure, which will improve standards and offer staff opportunities to develop in their chosen role. There are no plans for any redundancies, rather a reallocation of duties, in which our staff have been given an opportunity to request their preferred job role in the new structure.”

In January last year, the Customs House was set to close, but was saved after help from Arts Council England.

The theatre also got a £25,000 boost from a star-studded fundraising event led by South Tyneside comedians Jason Cook, Chris Ramsey and Sarah Millican.

At the time, Mr Spencer, said the venue “wasn’t out of the woods yet” and issued a “use it or lose it” warning to the residents of South Tyneside.