Jobs under threat at Owen Pugh Marsden Quarry site as firm restructures

Owen Pugh Limited has said that a decision to restructure its business will “likely involve a number of redundancies”.

The company has a base at Marsden Quarry, as well as others in Cramlington, in North Tyneside, and Middlesbrough.

About 25 people work at the Marsden site, but it is not yet known how many of those jobs are currently at risk as part of a consultation.

The company has said however that they are not proposing to cease operating from the location.

A spokeswoman for the earthmoving, civil engineering, aggregates, plant-hire, and haulage group said: “In recent years, certain parts of the business have underperformed, and in order to assure the group’s future the directors have taken the decision to restructure the business.

“Regrettably, this will likely involve a number of redundancies, which are subject to ongoing consultation.

“Owen Pugh companies have been a feature of the North East civil engineering and construction landscape for over 70 years.

“This restructuring is a necessary step to ensure that Owen Pugh remains part of the North East community for the next 70 years and beyond.”

The Owen Pugh group has engineering, contracts, training, aggregates, testing and drain services as well as a properties division.

Owen Pugh & Co Ltd was founded in 1946 specialising in construction plant hire.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the business developed into earthmoving contracting and then demolition.

In 2000, Owen Pugh Aggregates Ltd acquired Marsden Quarry from Tilcon, producing quarried aggregates and agricultural limestone.

In 2006 the company began the inert landfill operation within the Quarry as part of the quarry restoration plan.

The group currently employs over 400 people altogether and is headquartered in Dudley, Cramlington, with other business centres in Blaydon, Middlesbrough and Marsden Quarry.